YANGON — A Thai woman accused in the killing of a U.S. diplomat appeared in a Myanmar court this week in proceedings related to immigration charges connected to the case, as authorities continued preparations for a separate murder trial, according to attorneys familiar with the matter.
Pavinee Supasirivisan appeared before Kamayut Township Court on Tuesday in Yangon. She faces an immigration-related charge that Myanmar authorities apply to foreign nationals accused of committing crimes in the country. She is also charged with murder in connection with the death of her former husband, a U.S. diplomat who was found dead in May.
Three prosecution witnesses, including immigration officials, testified during the hearing, according to an attorney who spoke on condition of anonymity because of concerns about possible repercussions from Myanmar’s military-run government. The attorney said it remained unclear whether Supasirivisan had entered a plea.
The diplomat was found dead on May 11 at the Sakura Residence & Hotel in Yangon, a facility located near the U.S. Embassy and frequently used by diplomats and other foreign visitors, according to court-related accounts and diplomatic sources cited by media reports. Authorities have said the death is being treated as a homicide investigation.
Myanmar authorities have released limited information about the case. The U.S. State Department confirmed the death of an American government employee assigned to the embassy in Yangon but declined to provide additional details. “Out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones, we have no further information to provide at this time,” the department said in a statement provided to media outlets.
Supasirivisan was previously charged with murder in a separate court appearance earlier this month. According to attorneys familiar with the proceedings, a murder conviction in Myanmar can carry penalties ranging from a lengthy prison sentence to the death penalty. The immigration charge carries a lesser potential sentence under Myanmar law.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that it is providing consular assistance to the Thai national but has declined to discuss details of the case. Myanmar authorities have also not publicly disclosed information regarding her detention status or the timetable for the murder proceedings.
The case is unfolding amid tight restrictions on access to court proceedings in Myanmar following the military’s 2021 seizure of power. Trials are often closed to the press, and official information remains limited.
As of June 25, the immigration trial was continuing, while details regarding the timing of any separate murder trial remained unclear.
