An Australian economist and former adviser to deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has pleaded not guilty in a closed Myanmar court to charges of violating an official secrets law.
Sean Turnell has been detained in Myanmar since February 6 last year, a few days after the military ousted Suu Kyi's elected government in a coup.
He faces up to 14 years in prison if found guilty.
Australia's Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles says the government remains concerned about the transparency and procedural fairness in Professor Turnell's case.
"What we expect is that there is transparency, that there is an application of justice and an application of procedural fairness. We are concerned about all of those," Mr Marles told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.
"We're concerned about the level of access that is available to those providing consular services to Professor Turnell.
"Our most important engagement with Myanmar right now is around seeing a safe return of Professor Turnell to this country."
ABC News, citing a legal official, said Prof Turnell testified in court for the first time since his arrest but few details were available.
A lawyer for Prof Turnell did not answer phone calls from Reuters seeking comment.
A spokesman for Myanmar's military government was not immediately available for comment.
Prof Turnell is expected to be tried alongside Suu Kyi, who has also been detained since the coup, and several members of her economic team indicted for the same offence.
Reuters and AAP
Australian Associated Press