The convicts in the Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara’s lynching case have challenged the anti-terrorism court’s sentences awarded to them on different grounds, saying that the “cardinal principle of criminal justice was violated” and that it is a miscarriage of justice. Convict Taimoor had been awarded death sentence on two counts and 11 years rigorous imprisonment under different sections while convict Muhammad had been awarded eight years rigorous imprisonment under different sections. The appellants in their appeal contended that “there are glaring contradictions between the complainant and other witnesses which casts doubt over the prosecution’s case. Seventy-two convicts were sentenced to two years (rigorous imprisonment) on three counts and one year on two counts. Deceased Priyantha was working as a general manager at Rajco Factory in Silakot when on December 3, 2021 he had been murdered by a mob on the allegations of blasphemy.

Source: The Express Tribune April 26, 2022 23:56 UTC