The Trial-at-bar of Colombo High Court today fixed for trial to be heard from October 14 the on the case filed against six accused including former DIG Vaas Gunawardena and his son Ravindu Gunawardena in connection with the murder of businessman Mohammed Shiyam.

However, defence counsel of this case filing objections maintained that the court had no jurisdictional power to hear the case since the accused had been arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act and therefore they should have been charged under PTA and not under the Penal Code.

While dismissing objections filed by defence, trial-at-bar bench comprising justice Rohini Walgama and Leon Seneviratne fixed the case for trial to be heard from October 14.

Shyam was abducted and murdered in the Dompe area on May 22 and following investigations into the incident, the CID on June 6 arrested Sub-Inspector Lakmini Bamunusinghe, attached to the office of the DIG Western Province (North), along with three Police Constables (PCs) serving in the DIG’s special unit.