Aussie held in Myanmar pleads not guilty

Aussie Sean Turnell testifies at trial
Aussie academic and Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's co-accused Sean Turnell has pleaded not guilty -PR Handout Image

An Australian economist and former adviser to deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has pleaded not guilty in a closed Myanmar court to charges of violating an official secrets law.

Sean Turnell has been detained in Myanmar since February 6 last year, a few days after the military ousted Suu Kyi's elected government in a coup.

He faces up to 14 years in prison if found guilty.

ABC News in Australia, citing a legal official, said Turnell testified in court for the first time since his arrest but few details were available.

A lawyer for Turnell did not answer phone calls from Reuters seeking comment.

A spokesman for Myanmar's military government was not immediately available for comment.

Turnell is expected to be tried alongside Suu Kyi, who has also been detained since the coup, and several members of her economic team indicted for the same offence.