Death sentences upheld in Vidya case by Supreme Court

The death penalty for four defendants, including Swiss Kumar, stood affirmed by the Supreme Court today (06) regarding the 2015 abduction and gang assault of Jaffna schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya.

A five-judge bench, led by Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, delivered this verdict after dismissing the appeals filed by the defendants seeking acquittal.

However, the court ordered the acquittal of two other defendants in the case.

During the announcement, three of the convicted individuals appeared before the court via Zoom.

The Attorney General initially filed the case before a Jaffna High Court Trial-at-Bar against the group for the abduction and assault of 18-year-old Vidya in Pungudutivu on May 13, 2015.

While the High Court sentenced seven individuals to death in 2017, they subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court.

One defendant passed away while the appeal proceedings remained ongoing.