Prisoner without trial for eight years

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

The Supreme Court fixed for support for December 5, a rights plea of a man who had been languishing eight years in Bogambara Remand Prison without any trial.

Petitioner Lebbe Jauffer (41) who had been arrested by Kurunegala Police complained to the Supreme Court his rights have been violated by his eight year long incarceration without a trial.

The petitioner cited Kurunegala OIC, the Justice Minister, the IGP and the Attorney General as respondents.

He stated that Kurunegala Police has not filed charges since his arrest in 2001 on the suspicion of possessing narcotics and was not attending to his case and as result he has been languishing in the remand.

He stated that due to the harsh prison conditions, long incarceration without any trial he had told Kurunegala Magistrate that he was ready to plead guilty. But the Magistrate had told him that it was not possible in the absence of any charges being preferred against him.

The petitioner sought a court declaration that his rights have been violated by the respondents and sought compensation in a sum of Rs. 500,000.

The Bench comprised Justice Dr. (Ms.) Shirani Bandaranayake, Justice Jagath Balapatabendi and Justice Ms. Chandra Ekanayake. Counsel K. Thiranagama appeared for petitioner. The case will be taken up on December 5.