Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera this evening issued a statement clarifying the situation regarding the recent assault on IT student Nipuna Ramanayake allegedly by Senior Superintendent of Police Vass Gunawardene’s son and several others.
The following is a translation of the statement received in Sinhalese:
Consequent to the above case being taken up at the Kaduwela District Courts on 17 August 2009, several media had carried different versions of the case. This statement is to clarify the situation.
A special team conducting a methodical investigation into the above incident faced some delay to record the statements of from several main witnesses as they were out of the city. However, as a result of several investigations the police were able to take into custody 12 suspects and produce them before courts.
On the directions of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) a team from the Police Headquarters Crimes Unit, under DIG Anura Senanayake was able to arrest 12 persons, including three Sub Inspectors, seven constables and a police driver allegedly involved in the incident. When they were produced before the Kaduwela District Court, they were remanded till August 31 pending an identification parade.
Police requested court through a B Report, that the main suspect who had been admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital, be also remanded till August 31. Since the Kalubowila hospital comes under the jurisdiction of the Gangodawila courts, the magistrate had advised that the suspect be examined by the Gangodawila magistrate before the suspect is remanded.
Following this, the Gangodawila magistrate visited the Kalubowila hospital last night (Aug. 17) and after examining main suspect Ravindu Gunawardena, ordered that he too be remanded till August 31.
Accordingly, steps were taken by Prison officers to take over the custody of the main suspect who is still warded at the Kalubowila Hospital. Prison officials will thus produce him before the Kaduwela District court on August 31.
The Kaduwela District Judge had directed the police to produce Senior Superintendent of Police Vass Gunawardene and his wife before courts, if there was sufficient evidence in their involvement with the incident. Accordingly, SSP Vass Gunawardene’s wife is to be taken into custody today (August 18) and produced before a magistrate.
source: adaderana