Burmese ex-leader's relatives face death

Ne Win's family were accused of plotting a coup

A Burmese court has sentenced four relations of former leader Ne Win to death for treason.

Ne Win's son-in-law Aye Zaw Win and three grandsons were sentenced to death by hanging for plotting to overthrow the military government.

The defendants, who had pleaded not guilty to all charges, have seven days to appeal.

Family purged

Ne Win and daughter Sandar Win under house arrest

Sandar Win's husband Aye Zaw Win sentenced to death

Their sons Aye Ne Win, 25, Kyaw Ne Win, 23, Zwe Ne Win, 21 also sentenced to death

The sentence was harsher than expected. The BBC's Burma analyst, Larry Jagan, says many people in Rangoon now expect the sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment.

The court case signalled a dramatic slide in influence for Ne Win, who ruled Burma for more than 20 years until 1988, and his daughter Sandar Win.

Our correspondent says observers remain sceptical that Ne Win's family members were really plotting a coup, and suspect that the allegations have more to do with conflicts within the military leadership.

In an earlier ruling, one of the grandsons, Kyaw Ne Win, was also found guilty on corruption charges of purchasing, importing and using 15 unregistered vehicles and satellite phones.

He was jailed for seven years with hard labour on each of seven counts. The court did not indicate whether the sentences would be served concurrently.

Voodoo

The Associated Press news agency reported that during the trial the prosecution had piled strong circumstantial evidence against the defendants.

We never discuss politics at home and we have no interest in politics or have any political ambition

Testimony of Aye Zaw Win

This included three miniature dolls of the junta's top three leaders, Generals Than Shwe, Maung Aye and Khin Nyunt, which the family allegedly used in black magic rituals.

The government has said Ne Win's relatives planned the coup because they were upset at losing some of their economic and political privileges as the former leader's behind-the-scenes influence waned.

Aye Zaw Win denied this in his testimony.

"We never discuss politics at home and we have no interest in politics or have any political ambition," he told the court.

House arrest

Dozens of Ne Win aides are already being punished for their role in the alleged coup plot.

On 12 September a military tribunal sentenced more than 80 soldiers from Ne Win's security detail to 15 years in prison.

Ne Win himself, and his daughter Sandar Win, have been under house arrest since the rest of the family were detained.

The military government has hinted that they believe Sandar Win is actually implicated in the plot, and that she is also likely to face trial in due course.

Some analysts say that the junta is intent on crushing Sandar Win, who has built up a significant business empire.