Government to seek direct indictment in Air India case

Government to seek direct indictment in Air India case
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

MAR 1: The government prosecutors said in court they plan to seek a direct indictment of the two men charged with the bombing of an Air-India flight in 1985, which killed all 329 people on board.

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Ajaib Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik, the two suspects who have been in police custody since October, appeared in a provincial court here as government prosecutors outlined their plans.

"Crown counsel has confirmed its intention to seek a direct indictment," said Geoffrey Gaul, spokesman for the criminal justice branch of the minister of Attorney General, following the court hearing.

"Under provisions of the criminal code, the written consent of the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General is required to proceed by direct indictment," he said.

If direct indictment goes forward, "we would be proceeding directly to (British Columbia) Supreme Court for trial, bypassing the need for a preliminary inquiry, but naturally all of the disclosure issues would still apply," Gaul added.

Asked when the decision by the Attorney General or the deputy would be made, he said no time-frame has been set, but the next court appearance was scheduled for March 9.

The two suspects were remanded in custody until that date.

Earlier this month, a BC Supreme Court judge denied bail to the two Sikh men, saying their detention was necessary to maintain the Canadian public's confidence in the administration of justice.

Bagri has appealed his bail denial.