|
| Fonseka arrested; to be court martialled |
| Press Trust Of India / Colombo Feb 09, 2010, 00:47 IST |
|
Sri Lanka’s defeated opposition presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka was tonight arrested by the army and will be court martialled for military offences committed while he was in service, a fortnight after he suffered defeat at the hands of incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The 59-year-old former army chief, credited with the annihilation of the LTTE, was arrested along with his media secretary Senaka de Silva while on work at their office in the capital. Defence Spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe, who assumed charge today, said Fonseka was taken into custody by the army and will “face court martial proceedings for military offences committed during his service.”
In a dramatic turn of events, Fonseka’s office was cordoned off by heavily armed troops who blocked reporters and photographers from entering the building and taking pictures.
Another aide of the former army chief said Fonseka, a retired four-star general who served the Sri Lankan Army for nearly four decades, and de Silva were told in clear terms to co-operate with the military police.
“I heared one of the officers telling Fonseka that he is being charged for criminal conspiracy,” he said.
The arrest comes in the wake of reports that Fonseka could face a military court on charges of conspiring to overthrow the government and plotting to kill Rajapaksa.
The government has sought legal advice on using a military court to fast-track proceedings against Fonseka.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Read Business news in |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertisements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Content Guide
