Police officers further remanded over Rathgama abductions

The police insepctor and sub-inspector who were arrested over their alleged involvement in the killing of two businessmen in Rathgama have been further remanded until March 13.

The police inspector was produced before courts today while the Criminal Investgations Department (CID) had requested the Galle Magistrate to produce the sub-insepctor before an identification parade.

The prosecution had however argued that an identification parade was not necessary since the photographs of these individuals have already been released to the media.

Hearing was adjourned for about 30 minutes as court decided to conduct the parade as requested by the CID. The prosecution had failed to identify the suspect during the parade.

However, both suspects were present before the judge bench when hearings had resumed.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs had told court that it was important to reveal whether the businessmen were murdered or are still alive.

In response, the CID had informed court that invesitgations have confirmed that the bodies of the businessmen were burnt. They also requested the Magistrate to issue an order to send the fragments of their bodies to the Government Analsyts Department for further investigations.

Responding to a question by the Magistrate CID officials also said that the remains are currently in the possession of the Judicial Medical Officer of the Matara High Court.

Accordingly, the Magistrate had ordered the CID to produce those fragmented remains as evidence to hear the case. An order was also issued to remand the suspects in the Kalutara and Boossa prisons.