2 October 2020 06:01 pm
Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen’s brother Riyaj Bathiudeen was released as there was insufficient evidence against him for a case to be filed over the Easter Sunday attack, Police Spokesman Jaliya Senaratne said today.
He told a news conference that investigations were carried out by the CID after detaining him in custody for five months and that it had been revealed that there was insufficient evidence against him.
Responding to a question that the police earlier said there was evidence against him, SSP Senaratne said investigations were launched as there was evidence to conduct an investigation against him but the investigation had found out that there was no evidence sufficient to file a case.
He said a suspect could not be detained if there wasn't sufficient evidence against him.
“The investigations are not completed as yet and are at the final stage now. If the investigations find any connection into the incident, action will be taken against him,” he said.
When asked whether there was any political pressure to release him, SSP Senaratne said investigation officials are conducting investigations according provisions of the law and free of any pressure.
“We have not received information of any such pressure,” he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)