Impersonation at CNH misled probe - CID

By Yoshitha Perera 

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is awaiting the Government Analyst’s report regarding the investigation carried out on the handwriting appearing on the bed head ticket of Rilwan Hashim, brother of Zahran Hashim, who was injured in an explosion in August 2018, and receiving treatment at the National Hospital (NHSL), CID officer attached to the NHSL Police Unit told the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks.   

Testifying before the Commission, the CID officer said that Rilwan was admitted to the hospital following an injury he sustained as a result of an explosion and was receiving treatment for three weeks.   

“Rilwan was admitted under a bogus name M.I. Shahid, who was later identified as a suspect in vandalizing the Buddha statues in Mawanella. Meanwhile, M.I. Sadiq, a brother of M.I. Shahid, who was also a suspect in the same case, looked after Rilwan Hashim at the hospital,” he said.   

The CID officer added that, according to the bed head ticket, no injuries or scars were observed on Rilwan’s body.   

According to previous evidence given by the Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Dr. Ajith Tennekoon, Rilwan had sustained injuries above his waist. However, the bed head ticket showed that the injuries were due to a gas cylinder explosion. Observing the pattern of the injuries, the JMO said the injuries were due to a chemical reaction.   Earlier, the Commission was told that Police officers on duty at the National Hospital on August 27, 2018 did not conduct any investigation about Rilwan. Former OIC of the National Hospital Police Unit B.C. Nanayakkara said that a person who acted as Rilwan’s guardian gave a statement to the unit stating that they did not need a police inquiry into this matter.   

“Considering the above statement by Rilwan’s guardian, we suspended conducting further inquiry into the matter,” Nanayakkara said.