LTTE smuggling case: Madras HC extends suspension of sentence to three convicts

The Madras High Court bench on Friday further extended the suspension of the sentence awarded to three convicts, who were charged with smuggling raw materials to LTTE in Sri Lanka for making explosive substances, till June 10.

Earlier, the court had passed an interim order extending the suspension of sentence awarded against three convicts till June 3, on an appeal filed by them against the order of a lower court in Madurai.

The Sri Lankan refugees V Navaneethakrishnan from Virudhunagar and Sri Lankan refugees Edward Jayakumarand P Elangainathan were charged with smuggling raw materials to Sri Lanka for making explosive substances.

A court on April 28 convicted them under various sections of the Explosives Substances Act, 1908 and sentenced them to undergo three years in jail besides slapping a fine of Rs 1000.

The three moved the High Court bench seeking to set aside the judgment.

Justice S S Sundar observed that the court had failed to consider many aspects and arrived at the decision wrongly.

As the retrial court had already suspended the sentences till May 27, the High Court extended the suspension of sentence till June 3.

When it came up before Justice P Devdoss today, the judge extended the suspension till Jun 10.

The trial court had on March 4,2015 convicted and sentenced the trio to undergo seven years imprisonment.

It was then challenged before the High Court bench, which set aside the sentences stating the trial court committed a grave error and there was no link between the conviction and the actual charge sheet.

The HC asked to conduct a retrial, following which the trio were sentenced to three years of imprisonment.