SIU investigation into Police errors over granting of bail to suspects
May 09, 2019The Cinnamon Grand hotel suicide bomber, Mohamed Ibrahim Inshaf Ahamad was the owner of the brass factory at Wellampitiya. On 22nd April, nine employees of that factory were taken into custody and were produced at the Colombo No 2 Magistrate Court where they were ordered to be remanded till 06 May. When the case was called on the 06th May, the suspects were granted bail. The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) at the Police Headquarters has commenced a probe to ascertain as to whether any faults or negligence on the part of the Wellampitiya Police had led to the granting of bail to these suspects. Stern action will be taken against the officer responsible if the outcomes of the SIU investigations find mistakes have been made by the Wellampitiya Police in this regard.
Meanwhile, a person who tried to bribe the Officer in Charge of the Horowpathana Police to get a suspect, who was arrested in connection with the bombing incident, released was arrested by Bribery Commission Officers, on Wednesday (08). The man, who is a relative of the suspect in custody was arrested after the OIC had informed higher authorities of the incident.
Police investigations into the complaints made regarding the incidents at Kochchikade, Negombo has mostly been completed. On the request of both sides involved in the incident, religious leaders in the area have made requests from the Police that they would like to come to an amicable settlement regarding the complaints made on the incident. The people there feel the need to live peacefully and in religious and ethnic harmony as they had done before. The Police will provide its complete assistance in this regard, said so the Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara at the press briefing held at the Media Centre in Kollupitiya on Wednesday (08).
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Pelwatte Sugar factory was taken into custody along with his driver and another employee after Police found five Walki-talkies, several uniforms similar to those worn by MSD personnel, seven gloves worn by Traffic Police and three hand held traffic lights hidden by him. The search was conducted by the Police and STF after the employees of the sugar factory had staged a protest against the COO. The suspects are being questioned by the Police in Buttala.
Military spokesman and Director of the Media Centre, Brigadier Sumith Atapattu chaired the press briefing.