AG decides to release remand prisoner

Kapila SOMARATNE Panadura Group Corr

Wasantha Perera State Counsel representing the Attorney General informed the Panadura Magistrate R.S.A. Dissanayaka that the investigation report conducted into the complaint against the policemen of the Panadura Police Station was submitted to the Attorney General, who on consideration of the report decided to release the accused Ukwattage Padmasiri from remand custody.

He informed the magistrate that instructions to the effect would be forwarded to court by the Attorney General in due course.

The investigations in this case were held by the Assistant Superintendent of Police H. Samudrajeewa on the direction of Western Province Senior Deputy Inspector General Anura Senanayaka, following a comprehensive report submitted to the D.I.G. by the Panadura Magistrate on a complaint made by Upul Munasinghe, the Panadura Bar Association President that on 25.05.12 policemen attached to the Panadura Police arrested Ukwattage Padmasiri of Alubomulla, an accused in two illicit liquor cases, while he had submitted a motion to court through a lawyer to surrender and was waiting in the court premises.

He was arrested by the policemen while he was leaving court premises and taken to the police station where he had been assaulted and on the following day produced before the Panadura Acting Magistrate Ramani de Saram with a 'B' report stating that he was arrested with a hand grenade at Alubomulla.

At the inquiry conducted by the magistrate, three policemen on duty in the court premises on 25.05.12 in their statements hadstated that the accused was arrested near the Panadura Magistrate's court gate and taken to the Police station.

The accused had stated that he was arrested and taken to the Panadura Police and tortured. On court's direction the prison officials produced the accused before the Colombo South Hospital JMO and obtained JMO reports which were submitted to court.

At the special inquiry conducted by the Moratuwa A. S. P. H. Samurdajeewa over 15 statements had been recorded from policemen and the public who had seen the accused being taken to the Alubomulla area and assaulted.

Subsequently a hand grenade had been introduced and he had been produced before the Panadura Acting Magistrate who had remanded him.