HC rejects confession, acquits PTA accused

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 September 2002, 19:10 GMT]
The Eastern High Court Judge Wednesday rejected the confession purported to have been made by the accused in a Prevention of Terrorism Act case stating that it was not a voluntary one. "Hence I acquit the accused," said Judge Mr.J.Visvanathan. The case was tried in absentia of the accused.

In this case the Attorney General indicted Vasanthakumar Ravikumar for waging war against the Sri Lanka Army and caused deaths to soldiers at Kaddaikaddu between January 1991 and December 1991.

At the conclusion of the inquiry the HC Judge delivered his order Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Eastern High Court Wednesday discharged four accused in four PTA cases when the State Counsel withdrew the indictments against them on the advice of the Attorney General. Shanmuganathan Sooriyakanthan, Sellathamby Janaki Thevika and Ibathulla were charged with obtaining arms training from the LTTE. In the fourth case, Thavarajah Kanagasabai of Nilaveli was charged with providing lodging facilities to LTTE members.