Rishad released on bail

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen was released on bail yesterday after he appeared before Mannar Magistrate’s Court in connection with a case where he had allegedly threatened the Mannar Magistrate Anthony Judeson.

On 13 August, Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake had issued notice on Minister Bathiudeen to appear in Court in connection with the incident.

When the case came up before Magistrate Dissanayake who had been specially appointed to hear the case by the Judicial Services Commission, President’s Counsel M.M. Zuhair, Anura Mattegoda with Shiraz Noordeen appearing for Minister Bathiudeen moved Court that their client be released on bail.

Defence counsel M.M. Zuhair PC submitted to Court that his client was appearing in Court on a notice issued by the Court and further informed he has no reason to abscond the Court.

The defence further maintained that the Minister would not interfere with the witnesses in this case and thereby moved that he be released on bail.

The defence further argued that the suspect had allegedly committed a bailable offence which comes under section 186 and 223 of the Penal Code.

The CID inspector Roshan Masimbula informed Court that the investigations into the incident had not been concluded and the extracts of the concluded investigations had been referred to the Attorney General for his advice. Meanwhile, in reply to a query by the Magistrate, the Mannar police maintained that granting bail to the Minister would not lead to a public uprising in the area.  

Having considered the facts, the Magistrate ordered that Minister Bathiudeen be released on a cash bail of Rs. 10,000 and two sureties of Rs. 500,000.  Further magisterial inquiry into the matter was postponed for 4 October.

Meanwhile, the Magistr-ate further ordered that the 13 suspects who were allegedly involved in the 18 July mob attack on the Mannar High Court be further remanded till 10 September.