Sean Turnell, an Australian academic and economic adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi who was jailed in Myanmar for three years last week has COVID-19, according to RFA.

According to RFA’s sources, Turnell contracted the virus while he was in Myanmar’s Naypyidaw Prison. 

Turnell, 58, Aung San Suu Kyi and three of her deposed cabinet members, former Finance Minister Kyaw Win, his successor Soe Win, and Deputy Minister of Planning, Finance and Industry, Set Aung, were all sentenced to three years in prison on Thursday 29 Septemebr, for violating the Official Secrets Act.

According to the source, Turnell and Set Aung, were quarantined for having COVID-19 and then moved to Yamethin Prison in the central Mandalay region.

Apparently, Kyaw Win and Soe Win were also transferred to Yamethin Prison.

The Myanmar junta has not yet released any statement about Turnell’s COVID-19 infection and transfer to Yamethin Prison. There has also been no comment on the situation of the three former ministers sentenced along with Turnell.

Turnell was sentenced to three years in prison in a closed court twice last Thursday. Once for violating the Official Secrets Act and once for violating immigration law, but both sentences will be served concurrently, meaning he will only have to serve three years.

The Australian government condemned his imprisonment. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called for his “immediate release” and added: "We will continue to take every opportunity to advocate strongly for Professor Turnell until he has returned to his family in Australia.”

Criticism of Turnell’s imprisonment has come from many other places including the U.S. Government, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.