Club Wasantha murder case: MPs question airing of confession made by Tattoo shop owner

• MPs also question the action taken by media to publish the video clip

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

MPs of both sides in Parliament yesterday questioned the airing of the video clip on the confession made by the tattoo shop owner who is held in connection with the killing of ‘Club Wasantha’ in Athurugiriya on Tuesday.  

MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake who raised the issue initially said the video clip was a media show.   

“It is clear that the police have questioned the suspect earlier and then ran a media show later. We clearly saw the DIG who questioned the suspect reminding him of certain facts whenever the latter got stuck forgetting certain points. This makes it clear that the suspect had made a statement to the police officer earlier and that he was questioned again in the presence of the media. This kind of situation cannot be accepted,” Dissanayake said.  

 Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said the objective behind the airing of the video clip could be to clear those who are responsible for the killing.  

Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha also said that the public airing of the video clip will affect the investigations and also the court case. “Confessions which are made by suspects have to be handled diligently. These confessions matter where court cases are concerned. The confession made by the suspect who was held in connection with the Parliament bomb case was recorded carefully and it was never publicized. It was a shortcoming in the confession which made the court to acquit him. Therefore, the confessions which suspects make should be handled with care. The public airing of the video clip which contains the confession of the tattoo shop owner will certainly have an effect on the outcome of the case,” he said.   
The MPs also question the action taken by media to publish the video clip.