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Suu Kyi swimmer faces trespassing charge

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Published: May 16, 2009 at 1:05 PM

YANGON, Myanmar, May 16 (UPI) -- An American who allegedly sneaked into the home of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi faces trespassing and other charges, diplomatic sources say.

John Yettaw, 53, of Missouri, will face a judge Monday, as will Suu Kyi, who was being held under house arrest when Yettaw this month allegedly swam across a lake to her home and stayed there overnight, an unnamed U.S. Embassy official told CNN Saturday.

Yettaw was being held Friday at Insein Prison near Yangon, where Suu Kyi was also being held. Yettaw was charged with entering the country illegally, trespassing and contributing to the violation of the conditions of Suu Kyi's house arrest, the U.S. officials told CNN.

The New York Times reported Yettaw, described as an adventurer, twice swam to Suu Kyi's compound, where he allegedly delivered a Bible to her although she is a Buddhist.

The Missouri man didn't have a lawyer when he appeared at a Yangon hearing Friday, although a U.S. official told CNN the embassy has requested one.

Topics: Aung San Suu Kyi, John Yettaw
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