Lanka: Indian held for 'plotting' assassination of President Sirisena acquitted
An Indian national held in Sri Lanka over an alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena was acquitted today, court officials said. Marceli Thomas, from Kerala, was arrested in October following a complaint by Namal Kumara, a police informant, who had alleged a plot to assassinate Sirisena and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the former top defense ministry bureaucrat and brother of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Read more.
Magistrate had asked CID to present evidence in two weeks
The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court acquitted Thomas of the charges of conspiring to assassinate the VIPs when the case was taken up for hearing today. Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake on February 13 informed the CID to present to court evidence against the suspect regarding the plot in two weeks. However, the CID has not been able to produce any evidence against Thomas.
Thomas remanded further for staying in Lanka without valid visa
Thomas had denied the allegation in the court and claimed that he's innocent and that an attempt was being made to frame him. Considering the facts in the case, the Magistrate said he cannot order to keep a person in remand without evidence as the police wanted. However, Thomas has been remanded further on charges of staying in the country without a valid visa.
