News
AG challenges X-Press Pearl lawyer’s court appearance
View(s):By Ranjith Padmasiri
The Attorney General has objected to a lawyer appearing on behalf of the Singaporean owner of the sunken vessel MV X-Press Pearl at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court more than 23 months after the disaster.
The AG’s Department raised objections to the lawyer when the case was taken up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Keminda Perera. Appearing for the AG, Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Madhawa Tennakoon said the company was attempting to delay the probe into the incident by suddenly sending a lawyer to represent its interests.
DSG Tennakoon objected to Attorney-at-Law Nipuna Wimalasekara, who appeared for the X-Press Pearl’s captain, also appearing for the ship’s owner. He argued that the company had no right to have counsel representing its interests since it had not been named a suspect.
He also pointed out that the ship’s captain had already been granted bail and action had been filed against him in high court.
Mr. Wimalasekara requested the court to allow him to affirm his right to represent the vessel’s owner.
Inspector Nalinda Herath, who appeared for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), told the additional magistrate that email correspondence between the vessel and its local representative had been deleted and further investigations were ongoing into this matter.
The additional magistrate ordered the counsel appearing for the vessel owner’s interests to present submissions affirming his right to represent them. The case was then postponed till June 14.
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