Nugegoda SSP’s arrest was only after probe, says CID

A Colombo Magistrate has ordered the arrest of Nugegoda SSP K. Udayapala only after investigations and not promptly, Deputy Inspector General for the CID D.W. Prathapasinghe said.

He said some media reports had wrongly construed that the court wanted the order carried out immediately. Mr. Prathapasinghe said investigations were underway into the case.

The SSP is to be questioned in connection with a confession made by a suspect regarding the killing of missing underworld gang leader Nawala Nihal’s brother Maurice Wickremasinghe and the extortion of money from businessmen from Nugegoda.

Additional Magistrate Manjula Thilakaratne made this order when the magisterial inquiry into the killing of Nawala Nihal’s brother Maurice Wickremasinghe was taken up in court on Thursday. The court also ordered the arrest of two others.

Court ordered that a copy of the order relating to further investigations about SSP Udayapala be forwarded to the National Police Commission (NPC) and the Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

Among the allegations against the SSP is that he allegedly compelled Mr. Wickremasinghe to transfer an undivided half share of a block of land owned by him in Nawala to the SSP’s wife Wasantha Kumari Pahathgama.

Court was told that Mr. Wickremasinghe had written a letter the day before his death stating that the senior police officer would be responsible in the event of his death.