06 May 2009 :

a Doha appeals court in Qatar commuted the death penalty given to four Sri Lankans for their involvement in a compatriot’s murder to ten-year imprisonment. However, the capital punishment given in absentia to the mastermind of the crime was upheld. Diplomatic sources said the mother of the victim forfeited the blood money that contributed to the commutation of the penalty. Qatari authorities believe the murder of Sri Lankan Tamil Manokaran, 25, was a case of “political assassination” as he was a former member of the Tamil Tigers.