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| Sunday, 27 March 2005 |
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News Business Features
Editorial
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Lankans convicted in Saudi Arabia : Foreign Ministry appeals for mitigation Disclaiming media reports that it is not intervening to obtain mitigation of punishment to four Sri Lankans convicted in Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that it has explored all avenues for mitigating the punishment. The Ministry has also sent an appeal requesting pardon on humanitarian grounds to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia. Four Sri Lankans found guilty of armed robbery by the Courts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been in Al Hair prison since March 2004. The four accused are D.D. Ranjith de Silva, Victor Corea, Sanath Pushpakumara and Sangeeth Kumara. They had been found guilty by the Lower Court and three of them sentenced to death while the fourth accused has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in October 2004. According to the information received the accused persons had committed three robberies, and were caught while committing the robbery of a municipal vehicle, impersonating municipal employees. The driver of the vehicle had been shot and injured by the accused. The judgment was confirmed by High Court on 10th March 2005. The four accused had not cooperated with the Embassy officials, and declined to divulge the full details of the case. They had further informed the Embassy officials that they did not require
any assistance from the Sri Lanka Embassy. Only upon the death sentence
being delivered by the Lower Court on 28 October 2004, had the four accused
sought the intervention of the Embassy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has
advised the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment to render whatever
assistance to secure legal aid to the four Sri Lankans. |
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Editorial | Security | Produced by Lake House |
