Doctor Maheshi’s daughter remanded

By Bhagya Silva  

The daughter of Dr. Maheshi Surasinghe Wijeratne was ordered to be remanded until July 9 on charges of issuing death threats to the Assistant Director and an investigating officer of the Bribery Commission. The suspect is 21-year-old Hemali Anithra Wijeratne.

Both the Keselwatta Police and the Bribery Commission presented two separate B reports to court regarding the incident. 

According to the submissions made by Chief Inspector Sujith  Priyantha of the Keselwatta Police, the alleged threats occurred last  Friday outside the courtroom premises, following a case hearing against  the suspect’s mother. It was alleged that the suspect confronted the  CIABOC officers and made the threatening statement: “I will kill you.” 

The suspect had visited the Kuruduwatta Police the  following day and made a statement regarding the incident, as revealed.  She had also sent an email to the Director General of CIABOC, explaining  that the situation had been misunderstood. Officers told court that the  suspect had expressed remorse in her statement and apologised. 

Investigating officers informed court that, in order to  proceed with further investigations into the incident, CCTV footage from  the court premises on the previous Friday should be reviewed and a  statement should be recorded from the suspect. 

Appearing on behalf of the suspect, President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma and President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne submitted that their client is a young woman aged 21, still pursuing her higher education in English, and is unable to speak or write in Sinhala fluently. They further noted that the suspect’s father is deceased and that her brother is residing in the UK. They said the incident occurred amidst the mental distress caused by the mother’s remand.

They also stated that if any statement had been made  unintentionally, the suspect sincerely apologises and requests the  court’s compassion. 

After considering the submissions from both parties, the Magistrate ordered the suspect to be remanded till July 9.