Ex-army man appeals life sentence in desertion case

An ex-military officer who was handed a life sentence by a court martial at Mombasa's Mtongwe Navy Base has appealed the ruling at the Mombasa High Court.

An ex-military officer who was sentenced to life imprisonment on September 25 after being accused of deserting his post has appealed the sentence at the Mombasa High Court.

Lieutenant Geofrey Pepela, who was accused of deserting his post, argued that evidence used to convict him at the military trial was manufactured.

"He was convicted on manufactured evidence at Mtongwe, which was self-generated and fabricated," said his lawyer Ben Musundi in papers filed at the court yesterday.

The court martial sentenced him to life imprisonment after claiming he deserted his command post at Mtongwe during wartime or active service.

His military accusers claim he deserted the base on October 23, 2007, until March this year when it is alleged he returned.

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Mombasa High Court