Three-month detention order on Dr. Shafi withdrawn

The three-month detention order imposed on Dr Mohamed Shafi who has been accused of multiple charges including sterlising women had been withdrawn yesterday, a court heard today (Jul 11).

Deputy Solicitor General Thusith Mudalige told the Kurunegala Magistrate's court that terrorism charges which were also levelled against the doctor could not be proven against him.

Accordingly, the Defence Ministry had revoked the detention order after considering the submissions made on the progress of the case.

Mudalige also said that the allegations levelled against the doctor for illegally acquiring assets were still under investigation. However, he had noted that sufficient evidence had not been found so far to charge the accused under the Money Laundering Act.

Meanwhile, the court also heard that statements have been recorded from more than 850 mothers who claimed that they had been sterilised by the doctor while undergoing C-section procedures.

The Deputy Solicitor General also sought a court order instructing 147 mothers who had not conceived after their first procedure to undergo a test which would be carried out by the Special Investigations Board appointed to that effect.

At the conclusion of today's hearing, the court remanded the suspect until July 25.

Meanwhile, a group including parliamentarian Athuraliye Rathana Thero and several other mothers had protested against the doctor opposite the Kurunegala Magistrate's court this afternoon.