Court directs CID to expedite inquiry against detained Tamil civilians

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 September 2009, 04:08 GMT]
Colombo Chief Magistrate Nishantha Hapuarachchi Friday directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to expedite the investigation into the cases against twenty-seven Tamil civilians arrested in connection with alleged terrorist activities and to report to the court on the progress made so far, on September 29. The order was made following Defence Counsel claiming that the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) was acting unfairly in its investigations.

Senior Defence Counsel Mr. K. V. Thavarasa told court that the TID had moved to release Daya Master and George Master within four months of arrest, claiming that they had not been involved in any terrorist activities.

He further said other suspects, who were also arrested under Emergency Regulations, were unnecessarily kept in remand without a proper trial for more than a year. Everybody knew that Daya Master and George were LTTE leaders who had acted as the official translator of the LTTE and the interpreter of Thamilchelvan respectively. However, the TID moved to release them on bail claiming that they had no involvement in terrorist activities.

Yet the prosecution’s stand was that the two suspects were liable to seven-year imprisonment under Section 5 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Counsel further said the Pettah Police and several other police arrested the suspects during search operations on suspicion and thereafter they were remanded under emergency regulations.

The counsel questioned why the TID who were able to release Daya Master and George within four months, could not finish investigations and charge these suspects or grant them bail.

Counsel K. V. Thavarasha with S. Kalupahana, Raja Kulendran and M. Shaheed appeared for the suspects.