2 year sentence over withheld information

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 October 1999, 18:50 GMT]
Lorry driver Kanthan Thangavel of Thonikal Village in Vavuniya who pleaded guilty to the charge of failure to give information about an LTTE supporter was sentenced to 2 years rigorous imprisonment, effective from the date on which he was remanded, by Colombo High Court Judge Raja Fernando.

It was brought to the notice of Court that the accused was remanded in October 1997 and the said sentence would come to an end this October.

Defence counsel Mrs.Joy Mahadeva submitted that her client was charged that he had knowledge of an LTTE supporter Somasundaram Sivanesan transporting weapons to Colombo and failed to give information to the authorities.

According to the indictment he had committed the offence during the period between January and December 1995.

While the accused pleaded guilty he did not admit to the contents of the purported confession in the case.

State Counsel N.Pieris submitted that although the accused was suspicious of the bags in question, he was unaware that they contained weapons.