Fonseka charged with employing deserters

The Sri Lankan government has slapped a fresh case on detained former army chief Sarath Fonseka for allegedly employing military deserters during the presidential campaign earlier this year, the poll which he contested unsuccessfully against President Mahinda Rajapakse. The attorney general's department filed a fresh case against Fonseka, who is now an opposition lawmaker. He is accused of employing 10 army deserters in the run-up to the January presidential poll, a senior attorney told PTI.

The case was filed on Monday, the attorney said. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan attorney general  indicted the mother of Danuna Tilakaranthne, the son in law of Fonseka over money laundering charges he has been ordered to appear in court on August 5 to face these charges. Tilakaranthne, who is reported missing by the police, is wanted for his involvement in

the case of weapon procurement by Hicorp, the company he was heading when Fonseka was the army chief. He had allegedly earned money through commissions from weapons procurements he made for the Sri Lankan military during the last phase of the LTTE war.

Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Lanka Jayaratne refused to grant permission to Fonseka's two daughters to speak to him over telephone. The judge observed that no orders had been given earlier to Fonseka to speak to his daughters over the telephone. At the outset, senior defence counsel Nalin Ladduwahetti moved court to grant permission for his client's daughters to speak to him over the telephone. Hicorp (Pvt) Limited director Wellington Dehoedt and Fonseka were further remanded till July 26. The second suspect in the case Fonseka's son-in-law Danuna Tillekeratne was not present in court.