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Indian man not in proper senses, says brother
Marceli Thomas, the Indian man at the centre of an alleged plot to kill President Maithripala Sirisena, has psychological issues and was twice injured in accidents, one of which left him with a damaged right arm, his brother told the Sunday Times.
The man had reportedly been living in Negombo and begging for food because he had no money or other resources. Binny Thomas said he had last received a call from his brother on September 18 or 19 but had missed the call because it was late at night. When he tried the number the next morning, it did not connect.
Binny confirmed that Marceli had psychological issues and had been convinced that “criminals” were out to kill him and to steal his property. The former Airports Authority of India employee had written to Kerala’s Chief Minister several times about these concerns. Such fears may have prompted him to flee his home country for Sri Lanka.
Originally from Allapalli in Kerala, Marceli shifted to and settled in Trivandrum, not far from the airport, Binny told the Sunday Times via telephone. He was married but the union ran into trouble after the accidents. His wife allegedly secured his job at the Airports Authority after providing a written undertaking to care for her spouse but subsequently divorced him and set up home with another partner. She could not be contacted.
“Since then, he has feared that some people are behind him and trying to grab his property,” said Binny, referring to a land and building Marceli has to his name. He said his brother took the deeds with him everywhere and might even have them in his possession in Sri Lanka.
Marceli, who has an 18-year-old son, also rejected that he was ill or needed treatment. He would use bad language if he was asked if he had taken his medication, Binny said. “Nobody can control him, he does whatever he wants,” he explained. “When I spoke to him last, he told me he is in danger and some people are watching him. I said, ‘What can I do? I can only pray’.” The family are Catholics.
Binny thinks his brother arrived in Sri Lanka in January 2017. “He told me also to come, that he will find some work for me but I was not willing,” he related, saying he is being supported by his wife. “I have chronic kidney issues and I don’t work.
After his first accident, Marceli took medical leave for treatment. It is at this time that his former wife reportedly secured his job in the accounts sections. “He lost his sense since that day,” Binny recalled. “He started using ill words. Sometimes he is calm and quiet and seems like a sensible man. But other times he is not in a proper state of mind. When you ask him if he is taking medicine, he uses ill words on you.”
“In the second accident he broke his hand and his right arm is still not properly working,” he continued. “That can be seen from doctors’ reports.” Binny was deeply concerned about news reports in Sri Lanka that sought to paint his brother in a bad light. They were “bullshit” he said, and begged that the right account be published.
“He is a simple man from a poor family,” he stressed. “He does not even have money and was begging. What can he do with his land and building unless he sells it?”
Binny said Marceli had three other sisters who live in a different State of India. They had been unable to help him because he did not “stay in one place”. “If he was in our control, we could have helped him.” He said he will pray for his brother’s good health and was deeply concerned about what will become of him.
Marceli is now being detained in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department of Sri Lanka. The Indian High Commission is keeping tabs on the case. After conducting a background check of Marceli, it was found that he had “a history of mental disturbance since 2000”.
“We have shared the details with the Sri Lankan authorities and have assured them of full assistance and cooperation for conducting a thorough and professional investigation into the matter,” a High Commission spokesman said.