Image: Trial observers from the EU and US embassy in Sri Lanka were present in court.
Hejaaz Hizbullah’s case was taken up today (14 July) at the Puttalam High Court.
In a significant development in the trial, the prosecution witness Fowzan admitted that he lied to court at the behest of another prosecution witness Malik.
Fowzan had stated previously that Zaharan & his brother Rilwan visited the madrasa and conducted lectures. Today under cross examination by Counsel Chaminda Atukorale, he admitted that he never saw Zaharan or Rilwan at the madrasa.
He has also stated that what he said about Hejaaz Hizbullah previously, that he had visited the madrasa was also not true. He said it was Malik who wanted him to say this to the the CID and the Court.
Nalinda Indatissa PC, Farman Cassim PC, Asith Siriwardena and Piyumi Seneviratne appeared for Hejaaz.
The case is now fixed for October 19th and 20th for further trial. Trial observers from the EU and US embassy in Sri Lanka were present in court.
Chaminda Atukorale, Hafeel Farisz Sanjeewa Kodituwakku and Sonal Perera appeared for the second accused – Shakheel Khan.
(Compiled by SLB from tweets by @JusticeForHejaaz)