Former IG Pujith Jayasundara pleads not guilty

Former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara today pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him in connection with his criminal negligence and failure to prevent Easter Sunday Terrorist attacks. When the charges were read out to the former police chief, he informed Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar that he is not pleading guilty to the charges. Accordingly, the case was fixed for trial by the Colombo Trial-at-Bar bench comprising High Court Judges Namal Balalle, Adithya Patabendi and Mohomed Irshadeen. The High Court Trial-at-Bar had already served indictments consisting of 855 charges on former IGP Pujith Jayasundara. Meanwhile, the case filed against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando over similar charges is to be called before Court in the evening. The Attorney General filed indictments consisting of 855 charges against the two accused. The trial is to proceed without a jury commencing from November 29. They are currently out on bail. The two former top officials have been accused of failing to take measures to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks despite having prior knowledge of the attack.