Hearing in fraud case against Rajapaksa begins
July 5th, 2010 - 5:02 pm ICT by IANSColombo, July 5 (DPA) A Sri Lankan court Monday opened a hearing on charges of fraud against incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa by a former army commander who ran against him in the last election.
Former army chief General Sarath Fonseka, currently in military custody on charges of conspiracy, alleged that Rajapaksa rigged the Jan 6 presidential poll.
The case was heard in the Supreme Court by a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ashoka de Silva.
The suit alleges that Rajapaksa illegally directed public officials to campaign on his behalf.
Lawyers for the president submitted their objections, and the Court scheduled the next hearings for Sep 13-15.
Fonseka is seeking to have the election result declared void, and to be named president.
Rajapaksa was elected for a second term with 59 per cent of the vote, while Fonseka polled only 40 percent.
Fonseka spearheaded the military campaign which defeated the Tamil rebels last year, but later fell out with Rajapaksa after he was demoted, and entered politics against the president.
Two weeks after the election he was arrested but was elected to parliament in April from custody. He has been allowed to attend parliament sessions pending his court martial.
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- Chaos in Colombo court after ex-army chief gets new jail term - Nov 19, 2011
- Fonseka faces conspiracy charges in civilian court - Jul 12, 2010
- Former Sri Lankan Army chief arrested, to be court-martialled (Second Lead) - Feb 09, 2010
- Hunger strike by monks disrupted by Sri Lanka police - Apr 05, 2010
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- Sri Lanka court frees four co-accused in Fonseka 'conspiracy' case - Sep 25, 2010
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- Fonseka loses MP seat appeal as Sri Lankan SC rules court martial legal - Jan 26, 2011
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- Fonseka to face court martial next week - Mar 11, 2010
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