Bangladesh, July 31 -- Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena ordered the release of two former military intelligence officers, Hemachandra Perera and Prabath Duminda Weeraratne, who were suspected of abducting and assaulting a journalist and two state officials in 2008.

The court ruled that the suspects be acquitted and released from all charges.

The decision was made on the basis that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubts.

The suspects had been indicted under Sections 314 and 32 of the Penal Code by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), based on allegations that during their involvement in state intelligence operations, they had abducted the victims in a white van and assaulted them....