Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena ordered the release of two former military intelligence officers, Hemachandra Perera and Prabath Duminda Weeraratne, who were suspected of abducting and assaulting a journalist and two state officials in 2008.
The court ruled that the suspects be acquitted and released from all charges.
The decision was made on the basis that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubts.
The suspects had been indicted under Sections 314 and 32 of the Penal Code by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), based on allegations that during their involvement in state intelligence operations, they had abducted the victims in a white van and assaulted them.
The accused were alleged to have assaulted a journalist and a government diplomatic staff member in 2008 while engaged in state intelligence operations. The suspects were arrested in 2017 and held in remand custody for an extended period before being released on bail. The trial was recommenced in 2023.
Senior Counsel Shiras Nuredin and Counsel Farzan Mohamed appeared on behalf of the suspects.
During the trial, the defence argued that the suspects were not identified during an identification parade and presented alibis showing they were at different locations on the day in question. Based on these factors, the defence filed a motion seeking their release.
The court found that the evidence presented did not substantiate the charges and ordered the unconditional release of both suspects.