Lawyers to get confidential access to Hizbullah

Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah

The Attorney General yesterday informed the Court of Appeal that confidential access to meet and consult detained Attorney at Law Hejaaz Hizbullah would be granted to his lawyers.

This was following a Petition filed by a lawyer which said that confidential access had been denied to Hizbullah’s lawyers since the date of his arrest. 

The Court of Appeal made order that two lawyers be permitted to visit Hizbullah and obtain instructions from him after the Attorney General conceded to the right of Hizbullah and his lawyers to meet.

Earlier, lawyers of Hizbullah detailed how officers of the Criminal Investigations Department sat in on the consultations and took down notes during the meetings. The lawyers said that they were denied even that very limited access since 12 September.

Hizbullah has been in detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act since April 14. Two of his case files were also taken after the officers searched his chambers.

Following the undertaking in Court by the Attorney General that two Counsel would be meeting Hizbullah on 16 December and would be given continuous access thereafter, proceedings were terminated.

Romesh De Silva PC with Shanaka Cooray, Niran Anketell and Harith De Mel instructed by Sanath Wijewardena appeared for the Petitioner Chalana Perera.