Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Friday, 26 June 2020 00:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Court of Appeal yesterday issued an interim injunction preventing the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar from proceeding with the case against former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha
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Wasantha Karannagoda |
Karannagoda who is an accused in the 11-youth abduction case.
The CA bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Sobhitha Rajakaruna gave time until 22 July for the Attorney General to file objections in the case.
Karannagoda, who is among 13 others who have been indicted over the abduction of eleven persons in 2008 and 2009 before the Colombo HC Trial-at-Bar, filed a Writ Application seeking an interim order preventing the HC from proceeding with the case against him until final determination of the petition before the CA.
Romesh De Silva P.C. who appeared for the Petitioner in his submissions, said that the CID had investigated the case for ten years and there had been no evidence to link his client to the abduction of the youth or the alleged extortion racket and said the charges are politically motivated.
De Silva alleged that it was only based on the evidence of former Commander of the Navy Admiral Travis Sinniah (who was Deputy Area Commander East (Trincomalee) when the Petitioner was Navy Commander) that his client was named as an accused while the former Director of the CID Shani Abeysekera and the former OIC of the Gang Robberies Unit of the CID IP Nishantha Silva were involved in framing charges against his client.
Senior Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sarath Jayamanne P.C. who appeared for the AG said that Karannagoda has repeatedly failed to appear before the Trial-at-Bar, disregarding summons served on him when he could have done so in good faith.
Jayamanne told the Court it would send the wrong message to the public if interim relief is granted to Karannagoda, implying he is above the law and thus diminishing public faith in the Judiciary.
