Court denies bail for journalist Tissanayagam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 May 2008, 11:14 GMT]
Journalist J.S.Tissanayagam, Vettivel Yaseeharan and Vadivel Valarmathi were produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate Nishantha Kapuarachchi Wednesday for the first time after their arrest. They were ordered further detention with the Terrorist Investigation Unit (TID) till June 6 on an application made the TID that the inquiry conducted so far against the suspects had revealed that the suspects were involved in LTTE activities and that the TID needed more time to conduct further investigations, legal sources said.

The court ordered the TID to produce the suspect Vettivel Yaseeharan before the Judicial Medical Officer and to report for court on an application by the senior counsel K.V.Thavarajah that his client had been subjected to torture at the TID.

Counsel Thavarajah appeared for suspects Yaseeharan and Valarmathi

Counsel Thavarajah further submitted that this was the first time all three suspects had been produced in court since their arrest.

TID did not respond to the court instruction issued three times earlier to produce the suspects as the TID waited till the injuries sustained by suspect Yaseeharan due to torture and assault to heal.

Counsel further submitted to court that the Officer in Charge of the TID refused to allow counsel to meet the suspect despite permission granted by TID Senior Superintendent of Police. "Hence I beg court to order that the suspect Yaseeharan be produced before the JMO for medical examination and report," appealed Counsel Thavarajah.

He also brought to the notice of the court about the health condition of his second client Valarmathi.

Counsel Thavarajah said Valarmathi had been working as a temporary lecturer in the Jaffna University. She had undergone a surgery for her stomach ailment. Now she had been advised to go for further surgery. The court should direct the TID to take necessary action in this regard.

The court directed the TID to take necessary in regard to the illness of the suspect Valarmathi.

Counsel Nihal Kulathunge appearing for journalist Tissanayagam submitted to court that the investigation into his client was over and requested his release on bail. But it was turned down by court, legal sources said.

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