AG ready to frame charges against Maubima journalist

Wasantha Ramanayake

COLOMBO: The Attorney General was now in a position to consider framing charges against journalist Munusamy Parameshwari attached to the Maubima newspaper, based on the I.B. Extracts provided by the Police, the Supreme Court was told when her rights plea was mentioned before Court yesterday.

Sate Counsel Harshika de Silva on behalf of the Attorney General submitted that the Attorney General recently received the I.B. extracts and releasing the journalist on bail would also be considered once the full examination of the extracts had been done.

The State Counsel informed that in the pleading of the petitioner she had not been produced before a Court and produced several documents to the effect that she had indeed been produced before Court. The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the fact that his client had been produced before Court had been admitted in a subsequent affidavit.

The Bench comprised Justices Shirani Thilakawardane, Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga and Justice Andrew Somawansa.

Munusamy Parameshwari of Gampola under the detention of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) in her Fundamental Rights application to Supreme Court complained that her rights had been violated by the TID by their illegal arrest and detention.

The petitioner cited Director TID, Special Task Force SSP Ajith Wickremasekera, Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General as respondents.

The petitioner stated she was illegally arrested along with a friend on November 23, 2005 and detained in the TID without been produced before a Magistrate.

Parameshwari among other matters stated that she had no involvement in any unlawful activity nor had violated any.

The petitioner sought a declaration that the arrest and the subsequent detention was null and void and to release her from detention. She also sought Rs. one million compensation.

J.C. Weliamuna appeared for the petitioner.

Sate Counsel Harshika de Silva appeared for the Attorney General.

The application will be mentioned on March 21.