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No counsel retained by us, say five suspects in murder case | Businessman Mohamed Shyam’s killing
View(s):Five suspects involved in the businessman Shyam’s murder case told court they did not retain lawyers, but lawyers denying their claims said they were retained by the relatives of the suspects. When the non-summary inquiry into the killing was taken before Colombo Additional Magistrate A.M. Shahabdeen first suspect Koralage told court that he had not retained counsel Anura Ranasinghe although he claimed to be appearing for him.
He also complained to the Additional Magistrate that three lawyers who visited him in his cell had threatened him saying that he had ‘swallowed the pills’ of the CID officers.A group of lawyers who claimed were appearing for some of the suspects told court that the CID officers have promised these suspects be made State witness and would let them ago.
Counsel Ajith Pathirana told court that the relatives of the suspects met him in his chambers and asked him in clear terms to appear for them. They had also said that the CID has promised to make the suspects State witnesses and acquit them, the counsel said, adding that he had tried to convince them of the danger of the misdirection of the CID.
State Counsel Wasantha Perera appearing for the Attorney General with the CID informed court that certain lawyers were appearing for suspects without being retained by the suspects. Raising objections to the lengthy submissions of Counsel Anura Ranasinghe on behalf of first suspect Koralage, State Counsel Wasantha Perera told court that the counsel could not appear for him, since he was not retained.
Whenever there is a void in the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) would be applicable, argued State Counsel, answering Counsel Anura Ranasinghe who argued that since the CID has arrested the suspects under the PTA, they could not record statements from the suspects acting under the CPC.
Suspects Indika Koralage and four others told court they have not retained any counsel. The CID told court that the CID was conducting investigations to arrest Ravindu Gunawardene, son of former DIG Vas Gunawardene.
President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya appearing for suspect Vas Gunawardene moved for time to make submissions.
The suspects were further remanded until August 1. Further inquiry was fixed for the same date.
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