X-press Pearl disaster: HC case to proceed without two accused | Daily News

X-press Pearl disaster: HC case to proceed without two accused

The Colombo High Court yesterday ordered to proceed the case in the absence of two accused in the case filed against eight accused including the Captain of X-press Pearl vessel which caught fire and sank off in the seas near the Colombo Harbour while carrying Nitric Acid and other chemicals.

When the case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta, State Counsel who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General sought from Court to lead evidence to try the case under section 241 of Criminal Procedure Code due to them being unable to hand over the indictments to the fourth and fifth accused as they are residing in Australia.

Following the evidence transpired regarding the residency of the fourth and fifth accused, the Colombo High Court Judge ordered to proceed the case under Section 241 of the Criminal Procedure Code without both accused.

The open warrant was also issued to both accused by the Colombo High Court.

Previously, the indictments were served to the other six accused in the case filed by the Attorney General against eight accused including the captain of the X-press Pearl Vessel, Russian citizen Vitaly Tyutkalo, who was the captain when the vessel caught fire while transporting 186 containers, including several containers containing chemicals. The case had been filed against eight accused including the captain of the vessel, Vitaly Tyutkalo, a Russian, the local representative company of the Vessel, C Consortium Company and its directors including, Arjuna Indrajith Thisera Hettiarachchi. The case has been filed against the eight accused under eight charges under the Prevention of Marine Pollution Act and the Penal Code.

At a previous occasion, the captain was arrested by the CID and produced before the High Court stating that he had neglected responsibility for the incident.


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