JURIST - Paper Chase: Suu Kyi verdict delayed until August 11

[JURIST] The Myanmar court hearing the trial of opposition pro-democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] on Friday delayed the verdict until at least August 11. The court was scheduled to deliver the verdict Friday, after hearing closing arguments from the prosecution Monday and from the defense [JURIST reports] last week. Suu Kyi's lawyers said the court adjouned, saying it needed more time [AP report] to consider the issues. Suu Kyi faces charges of violating the terms of her house arrest for allowing an American to stay with her after he swam across a lake to visit.

Earlier this month, Suu Kyi's trial resumed after a delay [JURIST reports] with the testimony of Khin Moe Moe, a member of Suu Kyi's National League of Democracy (NLD) [party website] party, who claimed the charges were politically motivated. Last month, a Myanmar court sentenced [JURIST report] two members of the NLD to 18 months in prison after leading prayers for Suu Kyi's release. Her arrest was controversial and highly criticized [JURIST report] by the international community. She has spent 12 of the past 18 years in prison or under house arrest for alleged violations of an anti-subversion law [text, PDF]. News of Suu Kyi's trial has been met with criticism from numerous agencies and governments around the world. Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] has said the charges [HRW report] against Suu Kyi are "trumped up."