Wellampitiya Police OIC demands inquiry

Wellampitiya Police OIC Gamini Senarath Hewawithana has complained to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) demanding an inquiry against Colombo Magistrate Court Judge Priyantha Liyanage over the release of nine employees on bail of the copper factory in Wellampitiya.

It was reported that the factory, which belonged to the Cinnamon Grand suicide bomber Inshaf Ahamed, had been used to manufacture the explosives which were used in the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

Nine out of the ten suspects arrested on April 21 were remanded till May 6 and granted bail on two sureties of Rs. 5 lakhs each due to insufficient evidence.

It was alleged that the workers were released because the Wellampitiya Police failed to mention the offences the suspects were alleged to have committed.

Filing the B report, the Wellampitiya Police had also informed the Magistrate that releasing the suspects would create public unrest and therefore it is better to keep them detained pending investigations.

Wellampitiya Police OIC had complaint to the JSC, that despite objection from the police, the Magistrate had acted biased by making his own decision to release the suspects.

A lawyer who appeared on behalf of one of the suspects had submitted an affidavit to the JSC stating that the Magistrate made the decision despite objection from the police.

The SIU decided on May 9 to launch an investigation into the matter where the court granted bail to the workers. It was alleged that police may have erred by not filing the case under Prevention of Terrorism Act because the investigations were yet to reach that level. He said that is why they requested more time from the Magistrate to complete the inquiry.

Last week, Police Media Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara said disciplinary action will be taken against the personnel held responsible, no sooner the report from the SIU is produced. (Piyumi Fonseka)