American in Suu Kyi trial leaves Myanmar hospital

YANGON, Myanmar – An American on trial with Myanmar's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was taken back to prison after a week in the hospital, making it likely the court would announce a verdict Tuesday as scheduled, the defense lawyer and a government official said.

Suu Kyi's lawyer Nyan Win said Monday that he expected the rulings to be delayed again because of American John Yettaw's hospitalization. But a government official said he was discharged from Yangon General Hospital on Monday night. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

"It is now very likely that the court will announce the judgment," said Nyan Win. "I am hopeful that she will be acquitted."

A verdict had been scheduled for last Friday, but judges said they needed more time to sort through legal issues and it was rescheduled for Tuesday.

The 64-year-old Nobel laureate is widely expected to be found guilty, and faces up to five years in prison on charges that she violated the terms of her house arrest by allowing Yettaw to stay at her home for two nights. The American is charged as an abettor in violating her detention and could also be imprisoned for five years.

Yettaw was hospitalized last Monday after suffering seizures. He reportedly suffers from epilepsy, diabetes and other health problems, including post traumatic stress disorder from his service in the U.S. military.

National police chief Khin Yi told the media last week that Yettaw was looked after by a team of seven medical doctors but declined to comment on his condition.

The trial of Suu Kyi, who has been detained for nearly 14 of the last 20 years, has refocused international outrage on Myanmar, which has been ruled by its military since 1962.

The regime in recent days has beefed up security in Yangon, claiming that domestic and foreign opposition groups were planning attacks to coincide with the Suu Kyi trial.