Army Lieutenant Given Suspended Prison Term For Death Of LTTE Suspect

The Colombo High Court today sentenced an army Lieutenant for a two year rigorous imprisonment suspended for ten years over the death of a LTTE suspect in custody in 1998.

He was accused of shooting carelessly and with negligence and causing the death of the LTTE suspect.

The incident occurred in 1998 at the Point Pedro camp. The Lieutenant shot the suspect, Robert Velinthan, when he had tried to flee army custody. The suspect was in handcuffs.

Apart from the suspended prison term, the Lieutenant was ordered to pay a Rs 10,000 fine and also pay Rs 2 million as compensation to a closest relative of Velinthan.