The Colombo High Court granted bail to the Chairman of the Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha and five others who stand accused of murdering British National Khuram Shaikh and allegedly gang-raping his girl-friend Victoria Alexandra.

When the accused were produced before court today the suspects said that they were not guilty to the indictment. Seventeen charges were filed against the respondents including the murder of the British national on December 25, 2011 and the sexual assault on his girlfriend.

They were earlier released on bail of Rs.50,000 each and sureties of Rs.500,000 rupees each.

High Court judge Kumudini Wickramasinghe ordered that the suspects who were released on bail should sign for the bail on December 2. Bail was granted to the suspects under several conditions including handing over their passports to court, agreeing to appear before the Criminal Investigations Department every Sunday and ‘not intimidate any of the complainants.’

The high court judge noted that if the suspects violate any one of these bail conditions, steps will be taken to place them in remand custody again.