‘Politically victimised’ Fonseka ‘expects jail term’ in 2nd court martial over corruption charges
August 20th, 2010 - 2:10 pm ICT by ANILondon, Aug 20 (ANI): Former Sri Lankan armed forces Chief, and the defeated presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka has alleged that he is a victim of political vendetta and expects a second court martial to impose a jail sentence on him on corruption charges.
He is under investigation for the alleged irregularities in military purchases by the Army during his tenure as the Army Chief.
Last week, a military court had sentenced him to be stripped of his rank as a general and dishonourably discharged from the armed forces.
Sarath Fonseka, once very close to President Rajapaksa and his powerful brothers, says he is being victimised for daring to challenge Rajapaksa in the presidential elections.
“Whatever I did for the country, I didn’t expect anything in return. When I served the country for 40 years, I did not expect medals. I did not expect promotions. I did not expect money. I didn’t work on a contract,” the BBC quoted Fonseka, as saying.
“They are trying to create a lawless situation, lawlessness in the country. That is not in the long-term interest of the country. If there is no law and order in the country, people are not safe,” he added.
However, the government has said that he had been planning a coup and assassinations earlier this year, and so the law will take its course. (ANI)
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- Court martial politically motivated: Sri Lanka's ex-army chief - Sep 09, 2010
- Sri Lankan ex-Army chief convicted for engaging in politics while on active service - Aug 13, 2010
- Chaos in Colombo court after ex-army chief gets new jail term - Nov 19, 2011
- Sri Lanka's ex-army chief released from jail - May 21, 2012
- Sri Lanka court frees four co-accused in Fonseka 'conspiracy' case - Sep 25, 2010
- Rajapaksa gets nod to free jailed ex-army chief - May 17, 2012
- Three-year jail term for Sarath Fonseka - Sep 18, 2010
- Fonseka jailed for three years - Nov 18, 2011
- Sri Lankan ex-army chief gets bail - May 18, 2012
- Fonseka loses MP seat appeal as Sri Lankan SC rules court martial legal - Jan 26, 2011
- Ex-Sri Lankan General Fonseka charged in two new cases - Jul 14, 2010
- Rajapaksa orders release of jailed ex-army chief - May 20, 2012
- Former Sri Lankan Army chief arrested, to be court-martialled (Second Lead) - Feb 09, 2010
- India in touch with Sri Lanka over Fonseka's arrest - Feb 11, 2010
Tags: armed forces, assassinations, bbc, corruption charges, fonseka, irregularities, jail sentence, jail term, law and order, lawlessness, medals, military court, military purchases, political vendetta, presidential candidate, presidential elections, rajapaksa, sri lankan, tenure, term interest