Except Colombo district Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra,the eight other accused yesterday pleaded guilty for their involvement in the abduction of a youth using a Defender belonging to MP Hirunika Premachandra in 2015.
However,the Defence Counsel who appeared on behalf of Hirunika Premachandra informed the Colombo High Court that his client would not plead guilty to the charges and she is expecting to face trial in the future.
When the case came up before High Court Judge R.Gurusinghe, the accused; Kelum Niranjana, Kasun Malinda, Ruwan Pushpakumara, Mohammed Rizwan, Pasindu Sanjeewa, P.S.Abeysiriwardena and Jeganadacal pleaded guilty to seven charges including abduction, aiding and abetting to abduction and unlawful assembly.
Punishments, against the eight accused, are to be delivered, on November 24. Apart from the abduction charges, the nine accused have been charged on 29 counts by the Attorney General including threatening, assaulting and intimidating the victim Amila Priyankara after being abducted in Dematagoda.
The accused who were indicted are; Hirunika Premachandra, Kelum Niranjana, Kasun Malinda, Ruwan Pushpakumara, Mohammed Rizwan, Pasindu Sanjeewa, P.S. Abeysiriwardena and Jeganadacal.
The eight other accused were the security officers and supporters of MP Hirunika Premachandra.
The complainant Amila Priyankara alleged that he was abducted and assaulted by a group of people who came in a black Defender to Dematagoda on December 21, 2015.
Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara appeared for the Attorney General. Senior defence counsel Anura Seneviratne, Gamini Alwis with Ajith Pathirana appeared for the accused.