Police power to detain crime supects to be extended

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 December 2004, 18:57 GMT]
Sri Lanka government is to introduce an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) next week enabling the Police to detain suspects related to rape, murder and organized crime for seventy two hours in their custody since the time of arrest, Mr.John Seneviratne, Minister of Justice in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government told parliament Saturday, sources said.

The 24-hour period is not sufficient for the Police to gather enough evidence in regard to the commission of the offence, Mr.John Seneviratne said speaking on the votes of Justice Ministry during the committee stage debate held Saturday, parliamentary sources said.

Currently the CPC allows the Police to detain suspects in such crimes for only 24 hours in their custody and thereafter the suspects should be produced in courts.

The amendment is to be brought to curb the escalation of serious crimes in the island, following the murder of a High Court Judge recently, minister further said.