Fonseka to be tried in military court

Former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka, who has been arrested on conspiracy charges, will face a court martial, the military has announced and said that over 25 people have already given evidence against the General.

Former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka, who has been arrested on conspiracy charges, will face a court martial, the military has announced and said that over 25 people have already given evidence against the General.

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59-year-old Fonseka will be tried in a military court, military spokesman Maj Gen Prasad Samarasinghe said.
The summary of evidence is now being prepared in the case, he told a TV channel.

Samarasinghe said the General, who retired in November last year, was taken into custody as per military laws for an
offence committed while he was in service, the government's website reported.

The court martial procedure will be followed, the military spokesman said.

He said more than 25 people have given evidence against Fonseka and a chargesheet will be prepared, following which
the court martial procedure will begin.

"The army is conducting the normal court martial procedure and it has nothing to do with politics," he said,
insisting that Fonseka has not been apprehended for any political reason.

Fonseka, who was the joint opposition candidate in the January 26 Presidential polls in which he was defeated by
incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested on February 8 and being detained at the Naval Headquarters here.

He is also contesting the April 8 Parliamentary polls under the JVP-dominated new opposition alliance DNA.