Nine detained suspects had alleged LTTE connections - ASG

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Additional Solicitor General Palitha Fernando PC who appeared for the Attorney General yesterday submitted a report to the Supreme Court in connection with the 250 suspects who had been detained. The ASG said that out of 250 suspects 157 had been detained at the Boosa Camp.

Out of 157 suspects who had been detained at the Boosa Camp, nine are alleged to have been involved with the LTTE, the ASG said.

The Supreme Court yesterday directed the investigators to submit a report to court within two weeks regarding the suspects detained in connection with the ongoing investigations and to submit a report within a week about the suspects detained at several police stations.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC, Justice Raja Fernando and Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga yesterday directed the investigators to take all measures to produce the people now detained before respective courts and obtain an order to release them, if they could be released, from the custody.

The Court directed the investigators to submit a comprehensive list of names of persons now in custody to the Supreme Court Registrar.

A Fundamental Rights application had been filed by the Ceylon Workers Congress in connection with the people who were taken into custody recently.

The Court also directed the Senior SP Gamini Dissanayake of the Police Legal Division to allow two persons attached to the CWC to visit the Tamil persons now detained at the Boosa Camp.

In connection with the Fundamental Rights application, the Supreme Court earlier directed the investigators to submit a comprehensive report to court in connection with the people who were taken into custody.

CWC leader Armugam Thondaman who was present in court, told court that he was not granted permission to visit the suspects detained at the Boosa Camp. Forty suspects who had been detained at the Boosa Camp are members of the CWC, the CWC leader said.

The Chief Justice observed that if there is no strong evidence against any of the suspects now in custody, they should not be kept in custody.

However the Court granted permission to two members of the CWC to visit the suspects at the Boosa Camp.

The case will be called again on January 7, 2008.