PTA detainee discharged

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 March 2000, 12:49 GMT]
The Eastern High Court discharged a Tamil youth, Sithamabaranathan Kirubakaran, 28, of Santhiveli on Friday. He had been detained for more than two and a half years under the Prevention Terrorism Act (PTA).

The youth was arrested by the Sri Lanka Army on 5 August 1997. He was later handed over to the Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) of the police.

He had been indicted by the Attorney General under the PTA for failing to give information to the law enforcement authorities about a LTTE member identified as Suvi.

The charge sheet against Kirubakaran was filed on confession made by him to the police. Attorney-at Law Kanaka Namanathan submitted to the courts the confession had been obtained from the accused under duress. The accused had been subjected to severe torture when he was in custody.

The Batticaloa District Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), Dr. K. Chandrapalan while testifying in the courts said, that the wounds found on the accused had shown that he had been subjected to severe torture.

He said there were several injuries on various parts of youth's body and his eyes and ear have been affected. Because of torture the accused had also been affected psychologically, the JMO further said.

Following the JMO's testimony, State Counsel Mr. Sasi Mahendran said he was withdrawing chargers against the youth.

Thereafter the High Court Judge Mr. A. N. Ramachandran discharged the accused.

Attorneys Ms K. Thangavadivel and Kanaka Namanathan appeared for the defence.