AP
posted: 14 MINUTES AGO
YANGON, Myanmar -Myanmar authorities took into custody the doctor of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for questioning after an American man allegedly sneaked into her closely guarded home earlier this week, according her political party Saturday.
The detention adds more mystery to the alleged May 3 visit by the man who was arrested Wednesday after swimming across a lake to her home and staying there from Sunday night to Tuesday night, according state-run press.
National League for Democracy spokesman Nyan Win said the Nobel-laureate’s physician arrived at her house for her routine monthly checkup Thursday but was barred from entering after police tightened security.
“Authorities have taken doctor Tin Myo Win from his home since Thursday evening and have not returned since. We don’t know where he was kept or why he was questioned,” Nyan Win said.
Tin Myo Win’s assistant doctor was allowed to visit her Friday to treat her for dehydration, said Nyan Win, adding that the opposition leader was also suffering from low blood pressure.
Thursday’s press account of the lakeside intrusion said an American named “John Willian Yeattaw” confessed that he swam 1 1/4 miles (2 kilometers) across Inya Lake to Suu Kyi’s compound and “secretly entered the house.” The news reports say he acknowledged staying there before being arrested Wednesday morning.
It was unclear whether Suu Kyi had any contact with the intruder. Nyan Win said he had no information about the visitor, but said it was worrisome how easily the man accessed the tightly guarded home.
“We are very much concerned of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s security. What happened shows a security lapse,” Nyan Win said.
There are no other known cases of anyone sneaking into her home.
News reports say the man was arrested with a large empty water bottle — which may have been used as a flotation device — a U.S. passport, a black backpack, a flashlight, a pair of pliers, a camera, two $100 bills and $87 worth of local currency at free market exchange rate, said the newspaper report.
“Further investigation is being made to find out his motive for secretly entering the area that is out of bounds on security grounds,” the newspaper report said.
Other details about the incident are elusive, and even his reported name appears to be misspelled. The U.S. Embassy — which said the man’s name is John William Yettaw — said Friday.