AG instructs Acting Police Chief to expedite probes into high profile murders

The Attorney General (AG) has instructed the Acting Police Chief to expedite investigations into six high profile cases and submit "completed investigative material" for legal advice in due course.

The six cases identified by AG Dappula de Livera include the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga, national ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen, and 17 members of an aid group, and also the abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr and the case involving eleven youths.

The AG, in his letter to Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickremeratne, had said that the investigations of these cases "...have not been concluded so far despite reminders in this regard".

A similar reminder seeking to conduct swift probes into the cases had been sent to the police in June this year.

Meanwhile, in a separate letter to the Acting IGP, the AG had warned that incomplete files sent by the police seeking advice from the AG's Department on any civil or criminal cases, would be returned in future.

Mr. De Livera had said that this would be done in keeping with Section 393 of the Criminal Procedure Code which requires the police department to submit complete information to the AG.

Steps would be taken to return the existing incomplete files to the police, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, Co-ordinating Secretary to the AG told Times Online.

The AG had instructed the Acting IGP to convey these instructions to all police divisions in due course.

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