The case filed against fourteen accused including former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda in connection with the abduction of eleven persons in 2008 and 2009 was today fixed for July 24 by Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar.
When the case came up before Trial-at-Bar bench comprising High Court Judges Champa Janaki Rajarathne (President), Amal Ranaraja and Nawaratne Marasinghe, the Court was informed that Court of Appeal has already issued an Interim Order staying proceedings against Wasantha Karannagoda.
The Trial-at-Bar bench observed that it is required to ascertain whether this interim order would applicable to all accused in the case or only for Wasantha Karannagoda.
Accordingly, case was fixed for July 24 in order to obtain a clarification regarding the interim order issued by Court of Appeal.
On January 24, the Court served indictments on 13 accused including Navy intelligence officials in connection with the abduction, torture, extortion and conspiracy to murder eleven persons in 2008 and 2009.
Accordingly, indictments consisting of 667 counts under the Penal Code were served on 13 accused except former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda.
Thirteen accused including Navy officers D.K.P.Dasanayake, Sampath Munasinghe, Sumith Ranasinghe, Dilanka Senaratne, Nalin Prasanna Wickremasuriya, Anton Fernando, Rajapaksha Pathirannehelage Kitsiri, Aruna Thushara Mendis, Kathriarachchilage Gamini alias Ampara Gamini, Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi alias Navy Sampath, Upul Chaminda alias Annachchi, Nandapriya Hettihendi and Sampath Janaka Kumara alias Podi Kumara were present in Court .
The Attorney General maintained that information has exhibited that the accused have committed punishable offences which come under Section 102, 113 A, 356, 338, 333, 198, 372, 32 and 296 of the Penal Code in respect of conspiracy, abduction with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person, wrongful confinement for the purpose of confinement, conspiracy to extort, extortion, giving false information and conspiracy to commit murder.
Those abducted and murdered were S.A. Leon Stanly, Roshan Leon Stanly, John Reed, Thiyagaraja Jhegan, Rajiv Naganadan, Ramalingam Thilakeshwaran, Pradeep Vishvanadan, Mohammed Saajith, Mohammed Dilan, Kasthuri Arachchilage Anthony and Mohammed Anwar Mubarak.
Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara appeared for the Attorney General. President’s Counsel Anil de Silva with Anuja Premaratne PC, Counsel Niroshan Perera, Sudantha Bandara, Didula Rajapaksa appeared for the defence.
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