6 detainees allowed on bail, in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 December 2008, 18:17 GMT]
Mallaakam magistrate Ms. Sarojini Illankovan allowed bail on surety Tuesday for six persons detained by police arrested during a cordon and search conducted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police three months ago at the Saiva temples in Maasiyapiddi following a clash in the area, sources in Jaffna said. The eleven taken into custody during the search included Saiva priests, trustee board members and devotees. Five of these had been released on bail earlier, the sources added.

Attroney-at-law M. Remedias submitted a petition to the court pointing that the arrestees held under Detention Order (DO) cannot be held in detention for more than 90 days and to release them on bail.

The magistrate allowed bail on 30,000 rupees cash and the personal sureties of 2 government servants for each of the five detainees.

The police had not filed any charges on the detainees as they had been waiting instructions from the Attorney General in Colombo.

The detainees were released on bail as charges against them had not been filed within their 90 days detainment, legal sources in Jaffna said.