Senior State Counsel Wasantha Perera yesterday (19) informed the Special Trial at Bar bench that it is yet to be decided if Former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda will be retained as a defendant in the case. Karannagoda is the 17th accused in the case filed against 14 persons including Navy personnel who are accused of carrying out an abduction for ransom racket that abducted 11 men in 2008 – 2009.
A petition filed by the accused Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda against being named as a defendant in the case is currently being heard before the Court of Appeal. The Senior Counsel pointed out to the court that the Court of Appeal had issued an interim order temporarily preventing further action against the accused.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Champa Janaki Rajaratne, Amal Ranaraja and Navaratne Marasinghe has adjourned the case till June 02.
Karannagoda has been accused by the CID of having knowledge of the abduction racket while it was being carried out. During the magisterial hearing of the case, investigators of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) told courts that Karannagoda had admitted to having knowledge of at least five youth being abducted from Dehiwala and that they were held at the Eastern Naval Command.
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