Guinea-Bissau's former navy chief, who fled to Gambia last year after being accused of attempting to overthrow the government, on Tuesday told AFP he would return to prove his innocence in a court of law.
"I have decided to return on my own initiative on Friday, February 13 in order to present myself before a court from Monday 16 February," he said.
"I have been accused of wanting to overthrow President (Joao Bernardo) Vieira. I want to come back to show that that is nothing but a lie," he said.
"I have asked my lawyer to contact the court. I expect to lift the doubt about this affair," he added.
Tchuto fled to Gambia last August after the authorities said he was behind a coup attempt earlier that month. No arrest warrant, however, has been issued for him.
He was arrested in Gambia several days after his arrival but later released.
According to a judicial source, the former military chief had "become very rich very quickly, without any plausible explanation." He has been accused of involvement in cocaine trafficking.
Guinea-Bissau has become a key transit point for South American cocaine en route to Europe, undermining already weak state institutions.
A new government took office last month in the West African country, one of the poorest in the world, which has suffered repeated political unrest and coups since its 1974 independence from Portugal.
Last September, Tchuto's lawyer said the former Rear Admiral had asked for asylum in Gambia, but it was not clear if his request had been granted.
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