The court hearing for the Australian economist Sean Turnell, who was charged under Section 3 (1) (c) of the Official Secrets Act and the Immigration Act, was not held as scheduled on February 10, according to a source close to the court.

This was because the lawyer representing Soe Win, the Union Minister for Planning and Finance who is being prosecuted with Mr Turnell, could not attend the court in Nay Pyi Taw. He was supposed to be coming from Yangon for the hearing, but he was unable to because he had a high temperature, so the hearing was postponed.

Those being charged under Section 3 (1) (c) of the Official Secrets Act alongside Professor Turnell are: State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Union Minister for Planning and Finance Soe Win, Deputy Minister Set Aung and former Union Minister for Planning and Finance Kyaw Win.

Former ministers Kyaw Win and Minister Soe Win are currently in hospital. Kyaw Win is suffering from a hernia and Soe Win has undergone colon cancer surgery.

The charge against Mr Turnell under the Immigration Act was also not heard on 10 February and will be rescheduled for another time. His case is being heard every Thursday in a special court in the compound of the Nay Pyi Taw Council.

The fate of the Australian economist and former economic advisor to the Aung San Suu Kyi government was the subject of confusion this week after Cambodian PM Hun Sen had bragged that he had been instrumental in his release, only for the Myanmar junta to respond that he would remain incarcerated and would have to be sentenced.