LONDON, Jan 28: The chief of the Tamil Tiger rebels in Britain helped supply military equipment to the Sri Lankan separatist group, a London court heard on Wednesday.

Prosecutors alleged that 52-year-old Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, also known as AC Shanthan, led the acquisition of funding and materials bound for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Chrishanthakumar appeared at Kingston Crown Court in London charged with five offences, ranging from receiving electrical devices for terrorism, possessing terrorist documents, and belonging to a banned organisation.

Three others — Jegatheswaran Muraleetharan, also known as Muralee Tharan, 46 and his brother Jeyatheswaran Vythyatharan, also known as Vithy Tharan, 40, and Murugesu Jegatheeswaran, also known as M Jegan, 34 — are accused of receiving electronic items for use in terrorism.

The group, all Tamils from Sri Lanka, deny the charges.

Chrishanthakumar was a “very prominent figure” in Britain’s Tamil community, prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw said, adding that police became aware in 2004 that he was buying military clothing and equipment intended for shipment to rebel forces in Sri Lanka. Officers did not arrest him at the time, but told him to cease that activity.—AFP