CA postpones Athas case appeal

The Court of Appeal on Thursday (25) postponed the Appeal filed by two Air Force Officers against the judgment delivered by the High Court in a case where they were accused of criminal trespass and intimidation of The Sunday Times Defence Correspondent Iqbal Athas.

In this case the first accused Rukman Herath was killed in a personal vendetta while the case was in progress. The father Amarawansa Bandara Herath was granted permission to represent the first accused. Don Pradeep Kannangara was the second accused.

The two accused were found guilty on two counts and were sentenced to seven years on the first count and two years RI on the second count and a fine of Rs. 10,000 each and in case of default an additional one year RI to be added. The two officers were found guilty of unlawfully entering the premises of Mr. Athas and threatening the residents with firearms.

The Bench of the Appeal Court, Justices M.I.M. Ammam and Sarath de Abrew had to postpone the hearing as Senior State Counsel Dapula de Livera could not attend as he was involved in another case at the Supreme Court.
Attorney Ranjith Abesuriya PC appeared for the accused.