Sri Lanka will begin court-martial proceedings next week against its former army chief and defeated presidential candidate on seven charges including engaging in politics while in uniform.

Sarath Fonseka was arrested by the army after he lost a January presidential election to incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Rajapaksa appointed a three-member tribunal to try Fonseka for participating in politics while in office and violating military procurement procedures, military spokesman Maj. Gen. Prasad Samarasinghe.

Samarasinghe declined to elaborate on the charges, but government officials have previously said Fonseka illegally laid the groundwork for his opposition run for the presidency before resigning from the military in November. They also accused him of taking kickbacks in arms deals.

The court-martial will be held at the naval complex where Fonseka is detained.

Rajapaksa and Fonseka had been allies in the successful offensive that ended the country’s 25-year civil war against the Tamil Tiger rebels, but they split following the end of the conflict last year.

Rajapaksa has faced international criticism for Fonseka’s arrest.

Associated Press