The Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar yesterday served indictments on Samarappulige Niraj Roshan alias Ali Roshan and six others for allegedly keeping four elephants in their possession without valid permits.
The seven accused including two Wildlife Department officers were ordered to be released on a cash bail of Rs.100,000 with two sureties of Rs.2.5 million each.
The Attorney General filed indictments against Samarappulige Niraj Roshan, Wildlife Officers Upali Padmasiri and Priyanka Sanjeewani, Gihan Dhammika, Chandana Kumara, S.Gamlath and Gamage Jayalath for conspiring to possess four elephants without permits between June 5, 2012 and August 31, 2015.
The Attorney General did not raise objections to release the accused under exceptional circumstances. The defence told court that the accused have been already granted bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The Trial-at-Bar Bench comprising High Court Judges Sampath Abeykoon (President), Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne fixed the case for November 8.
They have been charged under 24 counts for violating the provisions of Fauna and Flora Ordinance and Public Property Act.
It is alleged that the first accused Samarappulige Niraj Roshan alias Ali Roshan was the mastermind behind the racket where illegally caught wild elephant calves being sold to third parties.
The Attorney General has listed 15 items as production items and named 30 individuals including two veterinary surgeons of the Wildlife Department and two professors of the Peradeniya University Veterinary Department as witnesses.
Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris with Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara appeared for the Attorney General.
President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne with senior counsel Ajith Pathirana appeared for the accused.
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