A Thai woman appeared in a Myanmar courtroom this week to face legal proceedings connected to the death of her former husband, a U.S. diplomat who authorities allege was fatally stabbed earlier this year.
Pavinee Supasirivisan is charged with murder in the death of her ex-husband, 43-year-old Daniel Riva, according to Myanmar authorities cited by the New York Post. Before the court addresses the murder allegation, however, Supasirivisan is first facing an immigration-related charge that applies to foreign nationals accused of violating the law while inside Myanmar, the Associated Press reported, citing a lawyer familiar with the case.
Riva died in May at the Sakura Residence and Hotel in Yangon, where authorities allege Supasirivisan stabbed him in the head and neck, according to the New York Post.
The case formally moved forward Tuesday when Supasirivisan appeared before Kamayut Township Court. During the hearing, prosecutors called three witnesses, including immigration officers, according to a lawyer who spoke anonymously with the Associated Press.
The Sakura Residence and Hotel, where the alleged attack took place, is located about a mile from the U.S. Embassy in Yangon and is known for hosting diplomats and foreign business travelers, the lawyer told the AP.
The immigration charge carries a potential prison sentence ranging from six months to five years if Supasirivisan is convicted, according to the Associated Press. The murder charge carries substantially more severe penalties under Myanmar law.
According to The Thaiger, a conviction for general murder can result in a prison sentence ranging from 10 years to life behind bars. The report also noted that defendants may face the death penalty if a court determines there is evidence of premeditation or severe cruelty.
Riva had built a career focused on combating international organized crime before his assignment in Myanmar. According to The Times of London, he was raised in East Norwich, New York, and previously served in diplomatic postings in Suriname and East Timor before being stationed in Yangon.
While serving in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, Riva worked as an assistant regional security officer and as a Diplomatic Security Service special agent. According to the U.S. State Department, special agents investigate crimes including passport and visa fraud while also targeting transnational criminal activity.
Family, friends, and colleagues gathered in Oyster Bay, New York, on June 13 to remember Riva during his funeral, multiple news outlets reported.
The U.S. State Department confirmed to The Times of London that an employee assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Yangon had died but did not publicly identify the individual.
According to The Times, Riva married Supasirivisan, a pastry chef, in June 2018. It remains unclear when the couple separated prior to the events now at the center of the criminal case.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Supasirivisan while she remains in custody, the Associated Press reported.
The proceedings have taken place largely outside public view, as reporters are not permitted inside the courtroom.
The trial is unfolding against the backdrop of Myanmar’s ongoing political turmoil. According to the Associated Press, the country’s military has ruled since seizing power from elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, a takeover that sparked a civil war that continues to affect the nation.
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