no evidence on allegations against Shafi :CID

• Also irregularities in the process of arresting him

By Nimanthi Ranasinghe  

The investigations carried out so far had not proven that Dr. Mohammed Shafi had blocked the fallopian tubes of mothers, amassed wealth in illegal manner or had maintained links with a terrorist organisation, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.  

When the case against Dr. Shafi was taken up for hearing in the court yesterday afternoon, the CID also said there had been irregularities in the process of arresting him. A report submitted by the Kurunegala Hospital Director said Dr. Shafi had performed caesarean surgeries on 3,479 Sinhala mothers, 860 Muslim mothers and 33 Tamil mothers.

The CID informed that they have reported to the court about 468 complaints out of 615 received alleging mothers developed complications after Dr. Shafi performed surgeries on them. It said 13 mothers out of the 147 complaints, which were being investigated, were produced before an experts committee but only two of them are eligible to be examined further. The CID said all other 11 complains were false. Meanwhile, the request made by the CID to produce these mothers before a medical experts committee in Colombo on June 30 to be tested for their fertility, was rejected by Kurunegala Chief Magistrate Sampath Hewawasam.

He ordered this medical test to be suspended immediately. The Magistrate ordered the CID to report to the court after inquiring from the medical experts committee as to how it would conduct the medical examinations. The CID said a large number of statements were recorded from medical doctors, nurses and other staff members who worked with Dr.Shafi and their statements had proved that he had not committed wrongdoings as alleged.