LONDON: A British Tamil leader was convicted yesterday of supplying bomb-making equipment to the Tamil Tigers, in a new blow for the rebels as they battle Sri Lankan forces trying to end a three-decade-long war. Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, 52, was found guilty of coordinating supplies of material to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), of which he has been alleged to be the leader in Britain.
The LTTE, which is a banned organization in Britain, has been fighting to carve out an independent homeland for the Tamil minority in north and east Sri Lanka since 1972. The court did not convict him of being an LTTE member.
Jurors failed to reach verdicts on three other charges against Chrishanthakumar, plus one charge against another accused, Jegatheeswaran Muraleetharan, while two other men were acquitted.
Chrishanthakumar, described as a “very prominent figure” in Britain’s Tamil community, supplied electrical components for the LTTE, some of which had “an obvious terrorist purpose,” the court heard.
He was also convicted of receiving documents for the purpose of terrorism, after a trial at Kingston Crown Court, southwest London.
During the trial, prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw said that police became aware in 2004 that Chrishanthakumar was buying military clothing and equipment intended for shipment to rebel forces in Sri Lanka.
The material was found to include computers, printed circuit boards, remote control equipment, radio transmission components and satellite equipment.
Officers did not arrest him at the time, but told him to cease the activity. Chrishanthakumar claimed he was trying to help poor farmers.
Three years later, police carried out a search of his home and “despite the warning when the police became aware of that activity, he had continued with his support activity on the LTTE’s behalf,” Laidlaw said.
He added that Chrishanthakumar, also known as AC Shanthan, had headed the United Tamil Organization in Britain before it became outlawed in 2001. The LTTE is designated a terrorist organization under British law.
Jurors were discharged yesterday after nearly 50 hours of deliberation, having failed to return verdicts on a number of charges. Prosecutors are expected to decide next week whether to seek a re-trial.
