Prominent Tamil ‘supplied bomb parts to terror group’

Sri Lankan now living in London provided Tamil Tigers with electrical components

A Sri Lankan man has been convicted on terror charges after being found guilty of supplying bomb-making equipment to the Tamil Tigers.

Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, 52, known as Shanthan, organised the supply of hi-tech electrical equipment for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Despite warnings to stop, Chrishanthakumar, described by the prosecution as a “very prominent figure” in the UK’s Tamil community, continued supplying components to the LTTE with “an obvious terrorist purpose”.

He was also found guilty of receiving documents for the purpose of terrorism. A jury at Kingston Crown Court, south-west London, failed to reach a verdict on three other charges, all denied by Chrishanthakumar. The Crown Prosecution Service will decide next week whether to seek a retrial.

From Sri Lanka, Chrishanthakumar was head of the United Tamil Organisation in the UK before it was proscribed in 2001. In 2004 police became aware he was buying military boots and clothing from an army surplus store in Southsea, Hampshire, which he shipped to Sri Lanka. He was told to stop. Three years later at his home, officers discovered more equipment.

The investigation showed evidence of the procurement of electrical components including computers, circuit boards, remote control gear, components associated with radio transmitters and satellite equipment. Officers believed these were being sent to LTTE.

Chrishanthakumar denied this, but jurors decided he was guilty of receiving electrical components and manuals with titles including Underwater Warfare Systems, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Naval Weapon Systems.

They failed to agree on charges |relating to Jegatheeswaran Muraleetharan (Muralee), 46, from Powys, Wales, accused of receiving electrical components for the purposes of terrorism. His brother, Jeyatheswaran Vythyatharan, 40, also of Powys, was cleared of the same charge. Murugesu Jegatheeswaran, 34, from Mitcham, south London, was found not guilty of the same charge.