Key facts
- A Thai woman, Pavinee Supasirivisan, was sentenced to one year in prison in Myanmar for violating immigration laws.
- She is accused in the death of a U.S. diplomat.
- The diplomat was found dead with stab wounds on May 11.
- Police have opened a murder case against her, which carries a potential death penalty.
- The U.S. State Department confirmed the death of a U.S. government employee but withheld further details.
A Thai woman, Pavinee Supasirivisan, has been sentenced to one year in prison in Myanmar for violating immigration laws, according to a lawyer familiar with the case. The charge stems from her alleged involvement in the death of a U.S. diplomat in Yangon. The court in Kamayut township found her guilty under a provision for foreign nationals committing crimes in the country, which carries a sentence of six months to five years.
Despite this sentence, Supasirivisan may still face murder charges. Police have opened a case under the murder provision, which carries a sentence ranging from 10 years to the death penalty, though it is unclear if she has been formally charged or if a murder investigation is ongoing.
The deceased U.S. diplomat has not been officially named by U.S. or Myanmar officials, but Western media have identified him as 43-year-old Daniel Paul Riva, who served as an assistant regional security officer for the U.S. State Department. The State Department confirmed the death of a U.S. government employee but cited privacy reasons for not providing further information.
Supasirivisan was arrested after the diplomat was discovered with stab wounds to the head and neck on May 11 at the Sakura Residence & Hotel, a location frequented by international visitors and located about 1.5 kilometers from the U.S. Embassy. Authorities in Myanmar rarely speak to the media, which is tightly controlled.