Sri Lanka: 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.

59-year-old Fonseka will be tried in a military court, military spokesman Major General 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 2009, was taken into custody as per military laws for an offence committed while he was in service, the government's website reported.

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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 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 in Colombo.