Sri Lankan writer Shakthika Sathkumara, who was unfairly imprisoned and charged under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act (ICCPR) was acquitted and released by the Polgahawela Magistrate’s Court today (9).
According to reports submitted to the court by the Attorney General on January 25, the Magistrate acquitted and released Sathkumara from the case.
He was arrested by the Polgahawela Police on April 1, 2019 following a malicious complaint made by extremist groups regarding a creative story posted by the writer on Facebook.
He was charged under Section 291B of the Penal Code and Section 3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No. 56 of 2007.
He was released on bail on August 5, 2019 after a protest by leftists, social activists, writers and artists in Sri Lanka after being incarcerated for around 4 months. Later in the case, the Attorney General was asked whether the case could be taken up on the charges levelled against him. Following the Attorney General’s recommendation, the Magistrate who heard the case today acquitted Shakthika from the charges.
