CID ordered to probe if CBN SAT involved in illegal transmission

Sandasen Marasinghe

COLOMBO: Colombo Additional Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the operations of CBN SAT and Sonic Network with the help of expert knowledge and submit a report on Monday to ascertain whether they have been involved in illegal transmission. The Court also ordered the CID to obtain expert knowledge from Sri Lanka Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (SLTRC) and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.

The Judge ordered the CID to submit the report within three days when President's Counsel M.L.M. Ameen appearing for the defence objected to the CID request to grant them one week for the investigation.

President Counsel Ameen submitted that the CID had obtained a search warrant by misleading the Court and the CID had also acted going beyond the provisions of the search warrant and seized the transmission.

The President's Counsel submitted documents to demonstrate that the companies received permission to import equipment from SLTRC and invoice documents indicating payments made by the company by way of tax. The Satellite Service Licence was also submitted before Court.

Senior State Counsel Gihan Kulathunga said CBN SAT and Sonic Network were sister companies and CBN SAT had transmitted a television channel with Snoic Network help.

Kulathunga said CBN SAT does not have a licence for telivision transmission. The company should have a licence from Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and SLTRC but CBN SAT did not possess such a license.

Kulathunga submitted that the Sonic network supported CBN SAT to transmit the television channel so that the CID had to investigate the two institutions.