Indictment filed against UNHCR driver

Sandasen MARASINGHE

An indictment was filed before the Colombo High Court against a driver of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) alleging that he transported explosives and a suicide kit of the LTTE in a vehicle belonged to the UNHCR.

The Attorney General filed indictment against Navaratnam Charles Ravindran alias, Charles alias Victor for transporting the explosives and the suicide kit to Colombo on April 30, 2008 from Kilinochchi.

He was also charged for aiding and abetting the LTTE by the act of transporting the explosives and suicide kit on the instructions of LTTE cardre Muhundan. Colombo High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundara fixed the case for November 5.

Navaratnam Charles Ravindran (45) of Fort, Mannar making a statement to the Colombo Crime Division said he joined the UNHCR as a driver on February 18, 2002. The Office was situated in Mullaithivu it was shifted to Kilinochchi in 2003. Thereafter it was shifted to Vavuniya in 2003.

Ravindran stated that he had to go to the Pareipanjan LTTE camp in Kilinochchi for obtaining passes, where he met LTTE cadre Muhundan. He struck a friendship with Muhundan and Muhundan invited him to support the LTTE. When he refused to support the LTTE, Muhundan threatened him stating that he would have to punish Ravindran if he did not support the LTTE as a Tamil national. Ravindran stated that as he was threatened, he had to support the LTTE. Muhundan inquired from him of a date when he would be going to Colombo. When he (Ravindran) had to come to Colombo on a day in April 2008 Mauhundan gave him a parcel that contained a suicide kit and explosives. Muhundan told Ravindran to hand it over to a person he would meet at Thotalanga. He packed it in his bag and transported it to Colombo. A few officers of the UNHCR too traveled in the Land Cruiser Jeep.

Ravindran stated after he dropped the officers at their destination and he went to Thotalanga. On his way, he called Muhundan over the mobile phone. When he reached Thotalanga a person waved at him and he (Ravindran) handed over the parcel to him. On the following day he went back to Kilinochchi with few 9 other officers. He was taken into custody by the CCD.