Medical officer files Rights application

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 October 1999, 04:50 GMT]
Dr.Franklin Alex Wincent, a medical officer attached to the accident service unit of the Colombo National Hospital has filed a fundamental Rights Application in the supreme Court challenging his detention by the Terrorist Investigation Unit of the Police.

His application was taken up for hearing today before a Bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath Silva, Justice Wadugodapitiya and Justice Shirani Bandaranayaka.

Petitioner's Senior Counsel Mohan Pieris submitted that the petitioner passed out as a doctor from the Jaffna University in 1993. He had served in hospitals at Ragama, Beruwela and Ratmalana prior to his transfer to the Colombo National Hospital.

Mr.Mohan Pieris stated that his client was taken into custody by the police on September 2, 1999 on a charge that an LTTE member had initiated calls to his mobile phone.

It is the position of his client that he had not been using the mobile phone during the relevant period. His detention is unreasonable, Mr.Pieris told Court.

Further hearing was put off for October 13.