Massacre suspects denied bail

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The 21 suspects involved in the massacre of the villagers at Puthkudiyiruppu near Thambalakamam in the Trincomalee District on February 1, 1998, were produced before P Swaranaraja, the Trincomalee magistrate this morning, but remanded further despite the cousel for the defence pleading that they be enlarged on bail, said sources in Trincomalee.

The attorney for some of the suspects, citing a provision in the law which is no longer in use, made an application that the suspects, who had been in remand for three months, be released on bail.

The attorney watching the interests of the deceased, K Ratnavel, and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer of the police, objected to bail being granted.

The magistrate rejected the application on the grounds that under the new bail laws, he could not release the suspect.

Related Articles:
02.02.98   Protests over police massacre