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Athas case: appeal date postponed
The Court of Appeal this week postponed the appeal in the case of intimidation of Defence Correspondent and Consultant Editor of The Sunday Times, Iqbal Athas for September 17.

Justice Chandradasa Nanayakkara postponed the appeal as Justice Gamini A.L Abeyratne was indisposed. The appeal was made by Air Force Squadron Leaders H.M. Rukman Herath (now deceased) and D.S. Prasanna Kannangara against the sentence meted out to them by the High Court on February 7, 2002.

The Air Force officers who were found guilty of the charges of intimidation and unlawful entry with weapons into the residence of Mr. Athas on February 12, 1998, were sentenced by the High Court to nine years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 10,000 each.

The defendants' counsel, Ranjith Abeysuriya, PC on Wednesday requested court that a date be set for oral submissions to be heard and accordingly September 17 was fixed.

The prosecution was represented by State Council Sumudu Wickramarachchi. Squadron Leader Kannangara is now the only appellant in the case with his colleague Squadron Leader Herath being killed while the appeal was pending.

Consequently, the court in terms of Section 358 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, allowed an application by Mr. Herath's father to intervene on behalf of his son.

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