Probe on nexus between police and lawyers

By L.B.Senaratne

An allegation of touting by a lawyer and a police constable in the Kandy District is being probed by the Special Investigation Unit under DIG Nimal Mediwake.

Already the statement of a lawyer had been recorded, according to Superintendent of Police Gamini Seneviratne in charge of the unit.

It is learnt that various modus operandi have been used by police personnel, especially in the lower ranks, to hand over cases to certain lawyers. Recently, Police personnel assigned to the Kandy Courts Complex had been shifted from their duties in Courts and new police personnel assigned instead with Chief Inspector H.M. Jayatilleke as the OIC at the Courts Complex, with work coordinated by SP Gamini Seneviratne.

This shuffle followed a meeting of judges, police officers and lawyers led by Bar President Lionel Ekanayake on Friday evening, presided over by High Court Judge D.S.C.Lekamwasam. DIG Mediwake was also present. Allegations were made that police personnel have favoured certain lawyers and brought clients to them.

According to police sources prosecuting officers at police stations have been changed so that every police officer in a station could learn the practices in courts.

Meantime IGP Victor Perera who was in Kandy around two weeks ago had said that prosecution of cases should not be left to sergeants and constables, but that ASPs in charge of police stations should be held responsible for conducting cases.

However, it is the opinion of experienced Police officers, that the ‘culprits’ were not only Police personnel with duties in courts but even those in Police stations.