Clarifications sought in Rizana’s case

The appeal court in Riyadh had sought clarifications yesterday on several issues regarding the case filed against Rizana, who was suspected to be responsible for the death of a Saudi Arabian infant.

The clarifications were requested from the court which heard Rizana’s case and sentenced her in June, 2007. The lawyers of the Sri Lankan embassy in Saudi Arabia who presented her case to the court had forwarded the clarifications which would be sent to the appeal court immediately, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Hussein Bhaila said.

He added that the issues on which the appeal court asked for clarifications was unknown and the next date of hearing would be finalised only after the appeal court has gone through the clarifications. Rizana Nafeek whose home town is Mutur had gone to Saudi Arabia in May 2005 at the age of seventeen, giving a false age on her passport. She was sentenced to death on June 16 by the Saudi Arabian High Court.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was to visit Riyadh last month to discuss Rizana’s case with the authorities but he was not able to do so. The Minister said the lawyers who were presenting Rizana’s case were keeping the Sri Lankan embassy and the Government informed on recent developments.