News
Rajitha remanded, Champika given bail, as detectives gather more evidence
View(s):Former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne was remanded till December 30 by the Colombo Additional Magistrate on Friday (27) evening in connection with the controversial news conference on alleged “white van” abductions.
Champika Ranawaka waving to supporters after he was released on bail. Pic by Chatura S. Kodikara
Additional Magistrate Shalani Perera gave the order after visiting Lanka Hospitals in Narahenpita where the former minister was undergoing treatment. She ordered the Prisons Superintendent to keep the suspect under the custody of prison officers while he is undergoing treatment.
The additional magistrate made the order after considering a request made by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to remand Mr Senaratne in custody as investigations regarding the incident have not yet been concluded.
Mr Senaratne was remanded over charges coming under the Penal Code and Presidential Elections Act.
The CID had been searching for Mr Senaratne since an arrest warrant was issued against him on Tuesday (24). It was reported on Thursday (26) that he had been admitted to Lanka Hospitals for treatment.
He was arrested by CID detectives at around 2.15pm on Friday. Afterwards the Officer in Charge of the CID’s Special Investigation Unit III, Chief Inspector Ravindra Wimalasiri and team of officers provided information regarding the suspect to court around 4 pm. It was following this that the additional magistrate visited the hospital and made the order.
Earlier that day, the two suspects who fronted the media conference allegedly organised by the former minister and claiming to have been involved in white van abductions were remanded till January 6, 2020 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.
Meanwhile, former Minister Champika Ranawaka who was in remand custody over a road accident that occurred in 2016 was released on bail by Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana Neranjani Silva on Tuesday (24).
Police officers entering the Lanka Hospital to arrest former minister Rajitha Senaratne. Pic by Indika Handuwela
He was released on a cash bail of Rs 25,000 and two sureties of Rs 500,000 each.
In announcing her decision, the additional magistrate stated that in the context where the Attorney General has not advised to file charges against the suspect under the Public Property Act, the court was empowered to grant bail for offences falling under the Penal Code and Motor Traffic Act.
The court ordered the former minister to be present himself to the Colombo Crime Division between 9 am and noon on the last Sunday of each month.
Further he was warned to refrain from interfering with the witnesses.
A senior police officer said investigators planned to gather evidence from certain policemen and politicians that may have assisted in allegedly subverting the course of justice by hiding crucial information. New CCTV footage has also been obtained and telephone analysis has begun. A statement will be recorded from former IGP Pujith Jayasundere who was Senior DIG Western Province at the time of the incident on what he did with the information that had been made available to him.
Meanwhile, the driver of the former minister Dilum Thusitha Kumara, who is the second suspect in the case, surrendered to court through his lawyer.
The magistrate ordered the former minister’s driver to be remanded in custody till January 6.