Gurunagar fishermen in explosives case enlarged on bail

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 August 2004, 02:09 GMT]
Jaffna Additional Magistrate Ms Srinithi Nandasekaran Friday enlarged all the four fishermen accused for transporting explosives by sea to Jaffna town on surety bail. They were kept in remand since their arrest on the orders of Jaffna Magistrate, legal sources said.

The Sri Lanka Army arrested the four fishermen of Gurunagar at the checkpoint located in the Cey-Nor Jetty when they returned to the shore after fishing. SLA alleged that they were in possession of dangerous explosives weighing about one kg.of TNT. The Jaffna Police charged the suspects under the Dangerous Explosive Ordinance under which only the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to enlarge the suspects on bail, legal sources said.

Judge Nandasekaran commenced inquiry into the case Friday under the ordinary explosive ordinance. She rejected the plaint filed by the Police under the Dangerous Explosive ordinance, legal sources said.

The Additional Magistrate stating that the court has jurisdiction to enlarge the suspects on bail under the ordinary explosive ordinance. She ordered each accused to furnish bail in a sum of Rs 25,000/= with two sureties, legal sources said.

She further ordered the accused to report to the Jaffna Police every Sunday.

The Police refused to hand over the boat to the accused fishermen stating that it was a vital evidence in the case.

Counsel Mr. N.Sri Kantha appeared for the accused.