17 June 2021 06:31 am
Although the Colombo Appeal Court ordered the release of former CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekera and another suspect on bail, the Gampaha. Magistrate Manjula Karunaratne ordered them to be remanded until June 30 since the bail conditions relating to the release had not yet been forwarded to the Gampaha Magistrate until last evening.
SSP Abeysekara and former SI of Embilipitiya police Sugath Mohana Mendis had been in remand on suspicion of fabricating evidence in the case of former Senior DIG Vass Gunawardene.
The other suspect remanded was the retired SI Nawaratne Prematilleka.
The prison authorities informed court that the suspects were not produced in court due to the Corona Pandemic.
Attorney at Law Srinath Seneviratne appearing for the retired SI Navaratne Prematilleka said his client who had been in remand for 280 days was subject to an injustice due to the Colombo Crime Division’s failure to complete the recording of his statement.
The magistrate ordered the Colombo Crime Division to complete the recording of the suspect’s statement in three days in the next two weeks and to report the progress on June 30.
IP Nishantha and PC 92700 Samira made submissions for the state. (TONY KARUNANAYAKE)