Naufar Maulavi and 23 Others to Learn Fate as Easter Attack Verdict Tomorrow (22)

COLOMBO (News 1st); The verdict in the landmark case filed against 24 accused, including Naufar Maulavi, under 23,270 charges relating to the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow.

The Trial-at-Bar of the Colombo High Court fixed tomorrow for the delivery of its judgment after concluding hearings in the case on August 24, following proceedings that spanned nearly five years.

The case was heard before a Trial-at-Bar comprising Judges Navaratne Marasinghe, Ramanathan Kannan and Sujeewa Nissanka.

A total of 23,270 charges were filed against the 24 accused, while 2,309 witnesses testified on behalf of the prosecution during the lengthy trial.

One of the accused died while the trial was in progress.

During the proceedings, the court ruled that 10 confessions made by the accused to the police under the Prevention of Terrorism Act could be admitted as evidence.

In addition, the prosecution presented Government Analyst reports, DNA reports, and Judicial Medical Officer reports relating to those killed in the attacks as evidence before court.

Another notable feature of the trial was the submission of 2,076 case productions by the prosecution, including explosives, chemicals used in the manufacture of explosives, swords and firearms.

The Attorney General filed the case under the Prevention of Terrorism Act against the 24 accused over allegations of conspiring, aiding and abetting the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks that targeted churches and tourist hotels in the Colombo, Negombo, Batticaloa areas on Easter Sunday in 2019.

The accused in the case are 

Naufar Maulavi alias Mohammad Ibrahim Mohammad Naufar, 

Mohamed Sareef Adam Lebbe alias Gapur Mama, 

Hayathu Mohamed Ahamed Milhan, 

Mohamed Ibrahim Sadik Abdullah, 

Mohamed Ibrahim Sahid Abdul Haq, 

Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Rizkan, 

Mohamed Mansoor Mohamed Samsudeen, Abdul Manaf Mohamed Fidhrouz, 

Mohamed Ramees Mohamed Sajith, 

Abdul Latheef Mohamed Shafi, 

Husseinul Rizwi Khalid Sameer, 

Mohamed Sawahir Mohamed Hassan, Mohamed Ifthikar Mohamed Insaf, 

Rasheed Mohamed Ibrahim, 

Mohamed Hanifa Zainul Abdeen, 

Mohamed Mustafa Mohamed Haris, Kachchi Mohamed Mohamed Jemsith, Zainul Abdeen Mohamed Jaseem, Mohamed Mustafa Mohamed Rizwan, Meera Sahib Mohamed Nafli, Mohamed Ameer Mohamed Ayathulla, Mohamed Ansadareen Mohamed Ilmi alias Ilmi, and Mohamed Akram Ahakkam.