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Last Updated : 2023-09-27 14:42:00
Wed, 27 Sep 2023 Today's Paper
Three men convicted by the US of being LTTE terrorists would get their sentences reduced by 10 years after a Brooklyn judge revealed that he had been “haunted” by the case, the New York Daily News reported on Thursday.
“I just believe in my heart of hearts that an injustice has been done and I can’t correct it,” Federal Judge Raymond Dearie has said, according to a transcript of a July 15, 2015 conference with prosecutors and defense lawyers.
Dearie was referring to the 25-year prison terms he was mandated to give to Canadian nationals Sathajhan Sarachandran, Sahilal Sabaratnam, Thiruthanikan Thanigasalam in 2011 for conspiring to acquire surface-to-air missiles on behalf of the Tamil Tigers, a rebel group fighting against the government of Sri Lanka.
The men filed a lawsuit in 2012 in Brooklyn Federal Court seeking a reduction in their sentences and disclosed details about the civil war chaos including the deaths of dozens of innocent children in a Sri Lankan air strike.
“Now that we’ve become a little bit more sophisticated in our thinking about what is and is not terrorism, now that we know a lot more about the conflict in Sri Lanka and the horrors visited upon these people, perhaps there’s a way to provide a fair measure of justice to all without condemning these men to essentially a life behind bars,” Dearie said.
Federal prosecutors informed Dearie this month that the Brooklyn US Attorney’s office had reached an agreement with lawyers for the three men which calls for essentially dropping the arms deal charge.
Their conviction for providing material support to a terrorist organization will remain along with the 15-year prison term.
As part of the agreement, the three men will be deported to Canada after completing their sentences.
spirit Thursday, 13 October 2016 04:56 PM
No worries..in SL now LTTE is considered better than our war heroes..
Nihal Amarasekera Thursday, 13 October 2016 05:18 PM
So moved; move away ISIS is on the way; not that we condone the beheadings
Latha Thursday, 13 October 2016 05:30 PM
What if they had conspired against the US? Jail them for 400 years
JJ Thursday, 13 October 2016 05:35 PM
America is a war of crimes to every nation.They has the right to sell their arms to any country
knob Thursday, 13 October 2016 06:20 PM
waiting for the first superficial comment from someone saying this is proof of the west being against SL via DM iOS App
rosebud Thursday, 13 October 2016 06:22 PM
Three cheers for the arms lobby via DM Android App
dd Thursday, 13 October 2016 06:28 PM
the looting beggars via DM Android App
Ajja Friday, 14 October 2016 08:22 AM
America is a funny land with funny leaders.They make the law and break the law.
Upul Friday, 14 October 2016 02:37 PM
US is the supper man behind whole terrorism in the world so we shouldn't surprise regarding this type of news.They need to understand one day they will be punished by nature.
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