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Bail for Duminda to be considered tomorrow
View(s):By Wasantha Ramanayake
The Colombo High Court on Monday will consider the bail application filed on behalf of Parliamentarian Duminda Silva who is the eleventh suspect in connection with the killing of four people including Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra October 8, 2011. Petitioner Vincent Perera, father of Duminda Silva filed the bail application seeking to release him on bail citing health reasons. Mr. Perera in his petition stated that his son underwent brain surgery and was still recovering.
The petitioner stated that according to the medical advice his son should be kept in a germ free environment under medical supervision. If his son is to move out of the present confinement in the hospital to the prison he would be vulnerable to infections and improvement in his condition what has been so far gained would be lost.
He added that the prolonged incarceration would also result in mental stress that too could worsen his condition.
Moving for bail, the petitioner also stated that releasing his son on bail would not cause any public outcry. He also ruled out any possibility of the suspect threatening witnesses in the case. Senior counsel Anuja Premaratne settled the petition.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Sadun Vithana ordered to remand till March 14, Parliamentarian Duminda Silva and 13 other suspects charged with the killing of four persons including Bharatha Lakshman in the Mulleriyawa shooting incident on the local government election day on October 8, 2011. ASP Shani Abeysekera of the CID informed the Magistrate that Duminda Silva was arrested 10.05 a.m following his hospitalisation.
He told court that Duminda Silva was flown from Singapore and arrived in the country on March 5 at 1.30 a.m. He said that according to the doctor who was treating Duminda Silva, the suspect was still recovering from a stressful flight from Singapore and was not in a position to give a statement. He also told court that the suspect is not in a condition to move out of the hospital to be produced before the court.
Tendering a report he made an application to remand the suspect. Counsel Anuja Premaratne appearing for the father of Duminda Silva said that the suspect was not fully recovered from his brain surgeries and his conditions should be constantly monitored and carefully managed in a germ free environment. Counsel Ajith Pathirana watching the interest of the deceased Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra’s family thanked the CID for arresting the suspect and requested the Magistrate to transfer the suspect to the prison hospital.
Commencing the non-summary proceedings the CID filed the charge sheet in the Colombo Magistrate Court against 14 suspects including Duminda Silva after the conclusion of the investigations on February 19. Colombo Additional Magistrate Prasanna de Alwis ordered the arrest of Duminda Silva on November 15, 2011.
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