21.2.2008
Two Sri Lankans, a mother Halemma Nissa Cader, and K.M.S.
Bandaranaike who were sentenced to be beheaded by the
High Court of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on charges of armed
robbery and murder of an old woman in Jeddah, has appealed
against their convictions in the Supreme Court of Jeddah.
According
to sources in Saudi Arabia, the two of them have managed
to file their appeal before the stipulated period of 30
days, which expired on 19 February.
It
is unclear whether Naushad filed his appeal, who is an
India national from Tamil Nadu and the husband of Halemma
Nissa Cader of Trincomalee, who too was sentenced to be
beheaded in the same case.
The
High Court of Jeddah confirmed its sentence delivered
on 11 June 2007 and handed over the written verdict to
the accused persons on 20 January 2008.
Along
with these three, five other Sri Lankan too were arrested
in November 2005, accused of armed robbery and killing
an elderly Saudi Arabian woman called Mariam, in Jeddah
Each
of them was sentenced to five years imprisonment and 500
lashes.
They
are:
1.
Singarayar Calithar Wimalathas from Trincomalee
2.
Abdul Basheer Mohamed from Mathurankuli, Puttalam
3.
Amir Jabbar from Sammanthurai
4.
Rismiya Abdul Haq from Kanatalai and
5.
Manickam Kulanthaivel Rosa from Kalmunai.
Rismiya
Abdul Haq and Manickam Kulanthaivel Rosa, are Sri Lankan
women.
These
five Sri Lankans accepted their guilt and they did not
come forward to file appeal against their conviction.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune