21 October 2020 02:24 pm
The attorney of the slain underworld figure Makandure Madush, in a letter to the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and the Inspector General of Police, said the narrative of the incident which led to the death of Madush was a "pure fabrication".
"It is recognized that as a civilized society which respects the Rule of Law, the recent spate of murders whilst in the custody of Law Enforcement agencies have gone unpunished with no investigation into the veracity of the narrative being forced down the public,” Attorney-at-Law Chaminda Athukorale said in his letter.
He further said, “It is recognized that no civilized society should condone this behaviour.”
“You are aware that the narrative put forth today by the Law Enforcement agencies regarding the murder of my client, is on the face of it, a pure fabrication. The transfer of Madush from the Criminal Investigations Department to the Colombo Crimes Division on October 16, 2020, was illegal and was a prelude to his murder.
"You are aware that in terms of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, such Detention Orders could only be made for a period of 18 months. Accordingly my client’s continued detention was to lapse on the October 28, 2020.
“Be that as it may, you are aware that the Detention Order in terms of the Law must specify the place of Detention. The said place of detention for the Detention Order numbered above, was the Criminal Investigations Department.
“However, illegally and arbitrarily my client was moved from the Criminal Investigations Department to the Colombo Crimes Division on or around October 16, 2020.
“The said move was illegal and was a prelude to the incident which took place last morning," the letter states.
The letter further says that no civilised society should condone such behaviour and says that the wife of Madush had in fact written to the Director of the Crimes Division on the October 17, 2020, detailing the manner and mode of the impending murder of her husband.
"Fearing such imminent threat to the life of my client his wife upon our advice wrote to the Director of the Colombo Crimes Division on the October 17, 2020 and informed them by way of phone call regarding the ruse by State Agencies. The said letter is annexed hereto for your reference.
“The letter specifies the clear fear and apprehension of the manner and mode of the murder of her husband whilst in Police custody" the letter states whilst calling on the Bar Association to condemn deaths whilst in Police custody in the strongest possible terms.
The letter