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COID-19 Brandix cluster: Probe delayed
View(s):The Attorney General’s ‘s order for the Police to conduct a probe on the Brandix COVID-19 cluster is being delayed for various excuses, the AG’s Department spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said that despite three reminders to the Acting Inspector General, C.D. Wickremaratne, no response had been received until Friday.
“We have so far not been given any specific reason for the delay, though there had been reports that some of the Colombo Crimes Division members had contracted the COVID-19 virus. But we should be given the reasons,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile the CCD has written to the Acting IGP that they cannot undertake the investigation as 26 of their officers had been afflicted by the virus and there would be a risk if the officers visit the factory for an inquiry.
A senior police officer said the Criminal Investigations Department also has declined to undertake the probe on the grounds that they were handling too many investigations.
He said the Acting IGP had so far not taken a decision as to who would be handling the investigation.
The first COVID-19 positive case from the Minuwangoda factory was reported on October 3.