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Defacing Buddha statues : AG files indictments in Kegalle High Court against 16 accused
The Attorney General has filed 21 indictments in the Kegalle High Court against 16 accused over defacing Buddha statues in the Mawanella area.
The accused are alleged to have been involved with Easter attack ringleader Zaharan Hashim in promoting religious hatred.
AG Dappula De Livera has requested Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya to appoint a three-judge trial-at-bar to hear the case. Those accused in the case include Naufer Moulavi, Ibrahim Moulavi, Mohammed Sajid, Mohammed Ibrahim Sadik Abdullah, Mohammed Ibrahim Sahid Abdullah, Sainul Abdeen, Mohammed Milhan and nine others.
They have been indicted under the Penal Code, Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing Act.
The accused are alleged to have conspired with the now deceased Zaharan Hashim to promote religious extremism and hatred, conducting lectures towards this end and undergoing weapons training. They are further accused of vandalising Buddha statues in the Mawanella area as part of a conspiracy to create religious hatred.
The AG is due to produce four court products and 92 witnesses in the case. This includes five confessions made by the accused. Indictments will be served on the accused when the case is taken up at the Kegalle High Court at a future date.