SLN arrests youths on alleged boat theft

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 April 2003, 01:53 GMT]
Mannar District Judge Mr.M.P. Mohideen Monday ordered fourteen-day remand for four Tamil youths for allegedly trying to steal a fishing boat kept in the custody of the Sri Lanka Navy, legal sources said. The boat belonged to an Indian fisherman and was confiscated when the fishermen were caught poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters in Pesalai recently.

The Mannar Police Monday produced four Tamil youths L.Vanan, R.Joseph, N.Amal and K.Vimal in Magistrates Court on a report that they had entered the Vankalaipadu navy camp around 10 p.m. on Sunday night and were arrested by the navy personnel.

The said boat was earlier ordered by the Magistrate to be kept in SLN custody till the poaching case was over, legal sources said.

Lawyers appeared for the defence made an application in court that the suspects had gone to the area close to the Sri Lanka navy camp only to trace a missing boat belonged to another Sri Lankan fisherman and therefore the court should release the suspects.

The Police objected to the bail application and the District Judge ordered the suspects be remanded till May 5, legal sources said.

The District Judge, however, allowed the application by the defence to keep the suspects in Mannar remand instead of sending them to Anuradhapura.

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