CA enlarges LTTE members on bail

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 October 2002, 13:22 GMT]
The Court of Appeal (CA) Tuesday ordered bail for two members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who were arrested by the Kantalai Police and remanded by the Trincomalee Magistrate.

"We enlarge the petitioners LTTE members on cash and surety bail taking into consideration that has arisen in the Eastern Province, particularly in Trincomalee and with a view to defusing the tension mounting in the area and preventing any development towards a disruption of law and order that may ensue," said the Judge of the Court of Appeal Justice Mr.Raja Fernando with Justice Mr. G.W.Edirisuriya agreeing Tuesday.

The bail applications submitted by the counsel for the petitioners, two LTTE members, Kandasamy Ramasamy of Jaffna and Mathavan Vasanthan of Mutur in the Court of Appeal on Monday were taken up for inquiry Tuesday before the Justices Raja Fernando and G.W.Edirisuriya.

Attorney Mr.P.Puvitharan appeared for the petitioners. State Counsel Mr.S.Ratnayake appeared for the respondents- the Kantalai Police and Attorney General.

After inquiry Justice Raja Fernando made order allowing the suspect on bail.

The order is given below: -

"Counsel for the Petitioners moves for notice on the respondents and for bail in respect of suspect-petitioners taken into custody by the Kantalai Police on 2/9/2002 on a charge of possession of offensive weapons. He further brings to the notice of the Court that a volatile situation has arisen in the eastern province, over six soldiers in LTTE custody nor being released until these two suspects taken into custody by the police are enlarged on bail.

"Learned State Counsel informs the Court that the Attorney General has received notice of this application and he has instructions to consent to the suspects being granted bail in this case.

"State Counsel further informs court that the suspects have no previous convictions or pending cases.

"Taking into considerations the volatile situation that has arisen in the eastern province, particularly in Trincomalee and with a view to defusing the tension mounting in the area and preventing any development towards a disruption of law and order that may ensue, we enlarge the suspects Kandasamy Ramasamy and Mathavan Vasanthan on cash bail in a sum of Rs 25,000/- each with two sureties acceptable to the learned magistrate.

"Suspects are further directed to appear before the Officer-in-Charge of Kantalai Police Station on the second Saturday of every month before 12 noon until this case is concluded.

"The Registrar is directed to forward a copy of this order to the Magistrate's Court of Trincomalee. Petitioners are entitled to a certified copy of this order on payment of usual charges."