AG withdraws PTA cases against two Tamil youths

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2003, 16:47 GMT]
The Eastern High Court Judge, Mr. S. Paramarajah, Monday discharged two accused in two separate cases indicted under the Prevention of terrorism Act when the prosecution informed court that it withdrew the indictments against them on the advice of the Attorney General, legal sources said.

Both cases came up for inquiry before the High Court at its Trincomalee session, which began Monday, the sources said.

In one case, Nadarajaguru Ganesh, of Palaiyootru in Trincomalee, was indicted for obtaining arms training from the LTTE between 1.1.1985 and 31.12.1985 in Kinniya. When this case was taken up for inquiry on the 22nd trial date Monday, State Counsel Mr.S.M.Halimdeen made an application to court seeking permission to withdraw the indictment against the accused on the advice of the Attorney General.

The Judge allowed the application and discharged the accused.

In the other case, the accused, Marcus Antony Sivakumar, of Udappu in the Puttalam district, was indicted for providing sea transport to LTTE cadres from the areas of Salapai Aru in the Trincomalee district and Karadianaru in the Batticaloa district during the period lasting from 10.1.1997 to 30.06.1997, legal sources said.

When the case was taken up for inquiry on the 17th trial date Monday, Mr.Halimdeen, the State Counsel, made an application to withdraw indictment on the advice of the Attorney General. The Judge again allowed the application and discharged the accused.