Legal luminaries criticise police for leaking suspect’s confession to media

Colombo, July 11 (Daily Mirror) - Legal luminaries have questioned the conduct of the police regarding a video being shared on mainstream media and social media in relation to a confession made by a tattoo shop owner in connection with the murder of Surendra Wasantha Perera, alias ‘Club Wasantha’.

Former president of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Saliya Pieris PC, stated on his Facebook page that this kind of live confessions being shared on media will adversely affect the final outcome of the case. The former BASL chief reiterated that the authorities should take disciplinary action against the police officers involved in the incident.

“This is absolute stupidity on the part of the police. A criminal investigation must be done in a professional manner with the aim of bringing an offender to justice not with the aim of gaining cheap publicity,” Pieris added. 

Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, former BASL Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya also stated that the police have forgotten the elementary basics when seeking to take a confession from a suspect before the media. Amarasuriya said the conduct of the police will not only compromise the case but also bring into question their basic knowledge and capacity.

“On the other hand, the media should have known better not to record and air the same. If we are to ever correct this system and see a change for the better, appropriate action must be taken against all those responsible,” Amarasuriya said.