It is reported that the Colombo High Court has sentenced seven fishermen to death for hijacking a fishing boat and killing three other fishermen in 2012.
On or around 15.10.2012, with the intention of fleeing to Australia illegally, the fishing vessel ‘Tejan’, which was carrying people engaged in fishing in the coast of Sri Lanka, was killed and three fishermen were killed and several other fishermen were seriously injured. Today (24) Colombo High Court Judge Mr. Adhitya Patabandige has given the relevant order to 7 fishermen.
The High Court Judge also ordered that the defendant named as the 10th defendant in the case be acquitted of all charges.
In addition to the three charges for which the death penalty was imposed, the judge sentenced the defendants to 29 years imprisonment with hard labor for the other six charges and ordered them to pay a fine of Rs. 2 million and Rs. 8500 each.
In addition to the death sentence, the judge also ordered that the prison sentences imposed should be served at the same time.
The Attorney General had filed a case against 11 defendants before the Colombo High Court.
As three of the defendants died during the trial or before the commencement of the trial, proceedings were conducted before the court against 8 defendants.
