Vijitha Thero released on bail

Tuesday, 8 July 2014 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Issued stern warning by Panadura Magistrate about intimidating witnesses
CCD lines up six witnesses against monk in plaint filed yesterday
Vijitha Thero reports seeing intruders at his Nippon Hotel press conference in court room
Lawyer says monk has appealed for Police protection after being bailed out

By Dharisha Bastians UPFA Pradeshiya Sabha Member and moderate monk Watarekke Vijitha Thero who was arrested by the Police on charges of lodging a false complaint about a ‘self-inflicted’ assault, was released on bail by the Panadura Magistrate yesterday. The Buddhist priest was given stern warnings by Panadura Magistrate Ruchira Weliwatte to refrain from intimidating witnesses listed by the Colombo Crimes Division in their filed yesterday, Counsel for Vijitha Thero, Attorney-at-Law Lakshan Dias said. “There were six witnesses listed in the plaint, including the monk’s nephew,” Attorney Dias told the Daily FT. He said that Vijitha Thero had informed him after being granted bail that he had seen several individuals who had also been present at his press conference at the Nippon Hotel in Colombo inside the court house. The monk’s press briefing was disrupted by the Bodu Bala Sena and its supporters in April this year and a case is pending in that regard. “I informed the magistrate about the priest’s claim and he then instructed that he request security from the police,” the Lawyer said. Vijitha Thero had travelled to the Panadura Police station to record a statement and request security after he was granted bail at 3:30 p.m., the lawyer said. The Magistrate had emphasised quoting from the Dhammapada that the most important thing for the Sangha or Buddhist clergy was vinaya or discipline, the Attorney added. Vijitha Thero, who leads the Jana Bala Sena, a counter-BBS movement, was remanded on 25 June, when Police and the Colombo Crimes Division informed the magistrate that their investigations into the monk’s assault were not concluded. He was further remanded on 2 July and finally released on bail after being produced in court yesterday. Vijitha Thero, a vociferous critic of the hardline Bodu Bala Sena movement, was found bound and slashed in a culvert in Panadura three days after the Aluthgama riots. Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said later that investigations had revealed that the monk’s wounds had been self-inflicted and that he had obtained the support of his relatives to stage his assault. The priest had confessed to staging the attack on himself, the Police Spokesman added. Vijitha Thero has since denied the allegations and lawyers for the monk say he has insisted on filing a ‘not-guilty’ plea. Court warns Gnanasara Thero about insulting lawyers Controversial General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was warned by the Fort Magistrate yesterday for derogatory remarks made against an opposing counsel. Lawyer for Jana Bala Sena Leader and moderate monk Watarekke Vijitha Thero, Maithri Guneratne made a Police complaint on 9 June, alleging that the BBS monk had cast racial slurs and insults at him for defending the anti-BBS priest. Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage told the monk that lawyers were considered court officials and insulting them could amount to contempt. Attorney Guneratne appears for Vijitha Thero in the case he has filed against the BBS and its officials for disrupting his press conference at the Nippon Hotel in April this year. (DB)