Court orders pre-trial hearing against 25 accused conspirators in Easter carnage case

By A.J.A. Abeynayake

A three-judge bench of the Colombo High Court trial-at-bar, on Monday, ordered that a pre-trial hearing be held on 04 Aug. against 25 accused including Naufer Moulavi, on charges including conspiracy to commit, and aiding and abetting the suicide bombings on Easter Sunday 2019.

The order was given when the case was taken up before a three-judge bench comprising Damith Thotawatte, Amal Ranaraja and Navaratne Marasinghe. The suspects including Naufer Moulavi were also produced before the court.

The bench directed that a preliminary hearing be held on 04 Aug. The three-judge bench also directed the lawyers of the accused to file their bail applications two weeks before the next hearing.

The case has been filed by the Attorney General against 25 accused including Naufer Moulavi, Sajeed Moulavi, Mohammad Milhan, Sadiq Abdullah, Adam Lebbe, Alias Gouper Uncle, Mohammad Sanas Deen, and Mohammad Rizwan on 23,270 charges including conspiracy to carry out terrorist attack and aiding and abetting the attack on Easter Sunday.