Friends of detained economist Sean Turnell say he was not trying to flee Myanmar before coup

Friends and supporters of detained Australian economist Sean Turnell have scoffed at claims he was trying to flee Myanmar before being detained by the military junta.

Professor Turnell was arrested just days after the military seized power. He has been held in detention since.

Now a state-run television station has quoted Myanmar’s military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, saying the government is taking “legal action” against Professor Turnell.

“An attempt to flee the…