The Court of Appeal on March 1, in a Habeas Corpus application filed by the wife of the suspect abducted on February 13, 2012, outside the Colombo Courts complex, by unidentified persons, directed the Keselwatta Police and the Prisons authorities to submit copies of the complaints made by the Petitioner.
Petitioner Ms. Subramaniam Ramani cited Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon, Commandant, Special Task Force, Officer-in-Charge, Keselwatta Police, Army Chief Lt. Gen Jagath Jayasuriya, Commissioner General of Prisons, the Attorney General and Velayuthan Mathias Chandrapala as Respondents.
Petitioner said that her husband who was arrested in Polgahawela and handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau, was subsequently produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court and remanded. The suspect was later enlarged on bail by the Colombo High Court.
Petitioner also stated that on a previous occasion, on or about November 20, 2011, several armed persons in a white van visited her residence, looking for her husband. As he was not present, they left. She had visited the Peliyagoda police station to lodge a complaint regarding the incident, but her complaint was not entertained.
She stated that hr husband, who was arrested by the Mirihana Police on November 25, for possession of ganja, was granted bail by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court, but remained in remand. He was brought to the Colombo High Court on February 13, 2012, to be released on bail, as he had already been granted bail by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court.
Petitioner further said that on February 13, after the Court proceedings were over, when her husband was being taken to the Prison’s vehicle, he was abducted by persons in a white van in the most mysterious way.
Petitioner requests Court to order in the nature of a Writ of Habeas Corpus, directing the 1st to 5th Respondents to produce the Corpus before Court, to be dealt with according to law.
The Bench comprising Justices Ranjith Silva and Nalin Perera directed notice to be issued on the Respondents, returnable on March 20. |