Khuram death: SL ministers apologise

27 July 2013 02:08 pm - 25 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Senior members of the Sri Lankan government have apologised for the death of a Rochdale man in the country in 2011, the visiting MP has said.

Khuram Shaikh, 32, from Milnrow was shot and stabbed on Christmas Day 2011.

Eight people, including a Sri Lankan politician, were arrested and bailed in November. They all denied the charges.

Simon Danczuk, who has been visiting the country said he had meetings with a "number of senior ministers, who said sorry for what happened to Khuram".

"That has to be welcomed, because I think it is the first time that anybody at a senior level has said sorry for the murder."

The British High Commission in Colombo has previously said the 18-month delay in bringing the accused to trial was "not a good message to tourists".

The Labour MP said the ministers had told him that missing DNA evidence, which had delayed the prosecution, had been "produced".

"That is a significant piece of the jigsaw in terms of a successful prosecution and it has taken a long time for the forensic examinations to be done on that."

He added that the officials had also given him "assurances and guarantees that justice would be done and [the case] would go to trial".
'Cautious but optimistic'

In a statement issued earlier this month, the Sri Lanka High Commission said the government of Sri Lanka "is committed to prosecute the persons responsible", with a "special prosecutor nominated by the Attorney-General to conduct the prosecution".

It confirmed the case had been transferred from Tangalle to Columbo Magistrates Court "to prevent the alleged intimidation of witnesses".

Mr Shaikh, who graduated from the University of Salford, had been working in Gaza for the Red Cross, fitting prosthetics limbs.

He was shot and stabbed when he and his Russian girlfriend, Victoria Aleksandrovna Tkacheva, were attacked on holiday in the resort of Tangalle.

His brother, Nasir Shaikh, said the responses to Mr Danczuk's visit were "very encouraging and positive".

"I'm cautious but optimistic - I hope this will actually move them towards the trial that needs to take place.

"We have been very concerned that it has taken so long to get the DNA report, but if it has been completed, that is a step forward."(BBC)

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Comments - 25

Hasan Saturday, 27 July 2013 04:41 PM

For god sake please president hang that alleged victim and prove that country's law is still strong and prevailing with no rooms for jilmarts.

fawzan Sunday, 28 July 2013 03:23 PM

President relies on such criminals for his own survival. If we eliminate all high profile criminals in this country, MR will loose his power.

mike Sunday, 28 July 2013 05:56 AM

with buffaloes like u what more to expect???

CROW Sunday, 28 July 2013 04:30 AM

Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied

Hoona Sunday, 28 July 2013 12:52 AM

It's a very insular political community in Sri Lanka. I think the court's part of that and they're protecting their own. There's no justice in Sri Lanka today.
Mr. President, Show the world that it is not so.

Gemba Sunday, 28 July 2013 12:50 AM

This is a disgraceful state of affairs. A man was murdered in a horrific attack and his G/F assaulted and raped. Where is the Justice? Why are the accused on bail? Its not a bailable offense.
They should take the whole gang into custody and do a fast track prosecution to obtain justice for these two victims. Is there no shame at all?

C.K.Lankaputhra Sunday, 28 July 2013 12:42 AM

Simon Danczuk, mister minister, don't believe any of them. They have no power to do anything than saying "we are sorry". Everything is decided by somebody else and this somebody can take the culprits even from the hands of the hangman, if they want.

Kumar Sunday, 28 July 2013 12:15 AM

Apology is not enough? Gota should be punished for this security breach and he is responsible!

Karunawathie Saturday, 27 July 2013 11:21 PM

Excuse me Hasan, why you say hang the alleged victim. The victim is already dead my friend. May be you wanted to say hang that alleged suspect. Right ?.

hisham Sunday, 28 July 2013 12:00 AM

crocodile tears. via DM Android App

gOB Saturday, 27 July 2013 05:36 PM

The culprits are Tangalle PS Chairman, the rapist, who was remanded for 2 weeks on this case and his goons. Quite unbelievable how they can abscond...phew

Deshapremiya Saturday, 27 July 2013 05:11 PM

Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman killed this foreigner using a gun issued by the Presidential Security. That explains how law and order is maintained in this country.

Laminate Saturday, 27 July 2013 05:01 PM

@RamUK, UK vala ehma unath Lankawe ehma wenne nah.....

c.concerned Saturday, 27 July 2013 02:15 PM

How strange it has now turned up? Lets see what happens?
Or perhaps the accussed are on leave, cant remember or in hospital.

Thomas Saturday, 27 July 2013 04:32 PM

Are the Apologies by Ministers to save the 1st accused?

RamUK Saturday, 27 July 2013 04:22 PM

In UK we have a govt for the ppl by the ppl to the ppl what you have in SL is ppl for the govt by the govt to the govt always upside down

Mason Saturday, 27 July 2013 04:15 PM

All this is eye wash in view of the CHOGM. Had the government been serious and sincere the case would have been on fast-track and would have progressed much.
We saw how fast matters moved in impeaching the CJ.

HiFarzan Saturday, 27 July 2013 04:09 PM

Seniority by which???
Membership in SLFP or ministerial portfolio... So many ministers are there who are sidelined...

BuffaloaCitizen Saturday, 27 July 2013 03:54 PM

The world needs to realise that justice is gradually forthcoming at snails pace simply because Khuram Shaikh is a British Citizen and the British Government is placing high pressure upon the GOSL. We ordinary Sri Lankan citizens should by now realise our status if this was to happen to any of us. What a shameless nation (both leaders and her citizens).

sss Saturday, 27 July 2013 03:42 PM

what a shame and tragedy. No sense in apologizing make the monsters pay.

raspi Saturday, 27 July 2013 03:27 PM

Sorry? thats all? why don't they stop protecting the culprits and punish them? What a country we live in. wish we too could say sorry and getaway with anything.

Renu Saturday, 27 July 2013 03:19 PM

No point apologizingf now bring your supporters who murdered hoim and punish them . Everybody is watching

Arachchi Saturday, 27 July 2013 03:17 PM

2011 to 2013....what prompt action..?

Publik Abilik Saturday, 27 July 2013 02:59 PM

Eyewash. Apologies are cheap, deeds are what matters. So DNA suddenly appears? One can be assured it's tainted. Perhaps the DNA is from a bunch of Monkeys, and it will be proven that monkeys killed this guy.

Kumara Saturday, 27 July 2013 02:39 PM

CHOGM is coming. Govt is playing safe until its conclusion.

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Khuram death: SL ministers apologise

Comments - 25

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