Attorney General appeals against High Court decision regarding Harak Kata

The Attorney General has informed the High Court that a petition has been filed before the Court of Appeal against the decision given by the Colombo High Court that the charges filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act against the defendants, including Nadun Chinthaka alias 'Harak Kata', who is considered a powerful drug trafficker, cannot be maintained. Colombo High Court Judge Buddhika C.

This information was revealed when the case was called before Mr. Ragala.

On this day, a decision regarding granting bail or releasing the relevant suspects was scheduled to be announced, and the Attorney General's Department was also scheduled to inform its stance on whether an amended indictment would be presented. However, the judge stated that his hands were legally tied due to an appeal being filed against the High Court's decision, and pointed out that an order to grant bail or release the suspects could not be issued at this time.

The defense lawyers argued that there was no legal basis to keep the suspects in custody any further, given that there was no valid indictment currently before the High Court. The defense counsel also brought to the court's attention that the Welisara Prison, where Nadun Chinthaka and Midigama Ruwan are currently detained, is not a legal prison but merely a detention facility belonging to the Navy.

Nadun Chinthaka, who sought special permission from the court, stated that he was in the custody of naval officers at the Welisara Naval Camp, and at that moment, he pointed out an officer next to him by directing the camera. He further stated that while he was previously detained in the Tangalle area, he received Ayurvedic medical treatment for his knee injury, but he is not allowed to receive such treatment at the Welisara detention center.

The High Court judge, having considered the submissions made, ordered that the suspects be kept in the custody of prison officials and that arrangements be made to provide them with necessary and appropriate medical treatment. In the previous court session, the state counsel had submitted to the court that if these defendants were released on bail, serious problems could arise in bringing them back before the court.