White Van Case Suspects further remanded

• Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne had given cash inducements to both the suspects through someone named Rumi Mohammed

By Yoshitha Perera   

Two individuals who made controversial remarks during a media briefing along with former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne on ‘white van’ incidents were ordered to be remanded till January 06, 2020 by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday.   

When the case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathna, representing the Attorney General’s Department, Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Dileepa Peiris informed that the former minister had given cash inducements to both the persons through someone named Rumi Mohammed and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will record a statement from him in the near future.  

However, the Magistrate questioned the DSG about the charges the CID framed against the suspects to be produced in court.   
The DSG said that the CID had recorded two statements from the first and the second suspects and according to those statements the CID has to change the initial charge sheet filed against them.   

Rejecting the bail request made by a counsel representing both individuals stating they had given two statements to the CID, the Magistrate informed that the court should know the exact charges filed against the suspect before granting bail.   

The counsel also said that both suspects wanted to make a statement in courts according to section 127 of the Penal Code.   
“The suspects have to know their exact charges before making a statement in courts and the CID should mention the exact charges against the suspect,” the Magistrate said.   
Meanwhile, DSG Dileepa Peiris said that the CID has already obtained unedited video clips from television channels and requested an order from the Magistrate to handover the clips to the government analyst.   

At the request of the DSG, the Magistrate issued an order to get the voice tests of both suspects.

During investigations it was revealed that former Minister Senaratne had given Rs. 2 million for both suspects to participate at the media conference and make the relevant statements.   
CID also said that the two suspects who had been arrested at a restaurant in Mahara, Kadawatha, were detained for 72 hours for questioning.