Remand extended for Sri Lanka policemen

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 12:03 GMT]
Tamil Eelam district court, Kilinochchi ordered further remand for three Sri Lankan policemen until 3rd January when inquiry into the case of the policemen accused of illegally crossing into Liberation Tigers controlled areas was taken up for inquiry Tuesday, legal sources said.

Inspector of Police, Ms Bhavani, told the Judge that the police is finding more useful evidence on the case and therefore to allow them additional time to complete the investigations according to Tamileelam Criminal Code 60 and 61.

Mr Velavar, attorney representing the defendents, told the Court that the defendents have been held in remand for 112 days without any charges. He pleaded with the judge to limit the period for investigations. He also requested the Judge to grant permission for the defendents to have telephone conversation with their superiors in Colombo.

Ms Bhavani requested the Judge to allow Tamileelam Police personnel to be present during the conversation.

The Judge after hearing the arguments allowed the defendents to talk to their superiors in the presence of Tamileelam police and fixed the next hearing for 3rd January.

K.A.D. Sarath, B.W.Bopetigoda and W.G.D.S. Hemantha, all in their thirties and claiming to belong the Sri Lankan Police, were arrested while in hiding in the LTTE controlled area on 10 September and were charged for entering Tamil Eelam without prior permission. The three policemen from Sri Lanka pleaded they had crossed the border to arrest a culprit absconding justice in sri Lanka.