Navy media spokesman, five others get bail

Former Navy Media Spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake and five other naval officers remanded in connection with the abduction and disappearance of eleven youths in 2008 were yesterday released on strict bail conditions by Colombo High Court Judge Manilal Waidyatilleke.

They were each released on a cash bail of Rs.100,000 with three sureties of Rs.1 million each

He released each of the accused on a cash bail of Rs.100,000 with three sureties of Rs.1 million each and ordered to report to the CID every Saturday. They were warned against intimidating or interfering with the prosecution witnesses or the investigating officers.

State Counsel Janaka Bandara’s objection to the granting of bail was overruled by the Judge and said one of the suspects was released on bail earlier and the prosecution had not objected to bail to two of the accused in remand.

The Judge said the State counsel objecting to the release of the other four accused on bail was irrational and unjust towards the suspects in remand.

He said though the prosecution affirmed that there were threats by the suspects on the lives of the prosecuting officers, the prosecution had not taken any steps to prove it.

The suspects were remanded by the Fort Magistrate’s Court and they filed the revision applications in the Colombo High Court against the Magistrate’s order.

During the investigations the Police arrested Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake, Commandore R.P.S. Ranasinghe and four other navy personnel, one of whom was released on bail earlier.