Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah has been granted bail by the Puttlam High Court today.
The bail has been granted after the Court of Appeal had issued bail on Monday (07) to Hizbullah who was detained for over 20 months.
Attorney-at-law Hejaaz Hizbullah was arrested in April 2020 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and had spent 10 months in custody before being charged.
While the Police earlier said the lawyer was arrested for alleged links to the Easter attacks, he was subsequently accused of promoting racial hatred, an offence under Sri Lanka’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act.
On 20th January, the Attorney General’s (AG) Department said it has no objections to releasing Hizbullah on bail subject to conditions.
However, in January, the Puttlam High Court rejected the bail application with the judge stating that it was not under her jurisdiction.
Following the Court of Appeal granting bail, the Puttalam High Court has also followed suit granting bail to Hizbullah today.
Today Hejaaz walks out of the Puttalam High Court with his handcuffs off!
He has been released on bail and is heading home.#HejaazHizbullah #JusticeForHejaaz pic.twitter.com/9AW3zk8GqL— Justice For Hejaaz (@Justice4Hejaaz) February 9, 2022
Meanwhile, the travel ban imposed on MP Rishad Bathiudeen and his wife over the death of their 16-year-old domestic maid has been temporarily lifted till the 24th of May 2022.
The Colombo Additional Magistrate temporarily lifting the travel ban has further granted permission for the duo to travel overseas.
The order was issued after Bathiudeen’s lawyer had informed the court that the couple requires to travel to Qatar for personal work. (NewsWire)