Australian held in Myanmar pleads not guilty in closed court

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

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, Qazet.az reports according to Australian broadcaster ABC.

Sean Turnell has been detained in Myanmar since Feb. 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.