Alleged assault on Major:

Seven including Malaka remanded

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The Colombo Crime Division (CCD) yesterday produced seven suspects including Minister Mervyn Silva’s son Malaka before Colombo Fort magistrate and additional district Judge Kaviska Wijeratne in connection with a complaint by Major Chandana Pradeep that he was assaulted by several persons and relieved of his official weapon, mobile phone and the car key.

The seven suspects produced before court were remanded until September 24.

Of the seven suspects, only two suspects, Malaka and Rehan Wijeratne, were produced in open court. The other suspects were kept in a closed Police vehicle to produce them before an identification parade.

Remanding the suspects, Judge Wijeratne directed the Police to submit a comprehensive report about investigations including the CCT camera report and about the Major who was at the hotel at the time of the incident. Producing the suspects, CCD Director ASP D R L Ranawaka submitted that the complainant Major had stated that his official revolver, mobile phone and the car key had been stolen by the suspects who assaulted him at a Five Star Hotel in Colombo on September 9.

Moving to remand the suspects, ASP Ranawaka said investigations into the complaint had not been completed and investigators are making arrangements to obtain the CCT camera from the Five Star Hotel to help them in the investigations.

ASP Ranawaka submitted that they have recorded statements from the complainant Major, who is warded at the Army Hospital with a head injury. President’s Counsel Jayantha Weerasingha, President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya and President’s Counsel Anil Silva appearing for the Defence totally denied the allegations by the Police and the Major that he (the Major) was assaulted at a Five Star Hotel.

The incident had occurred near a car park of the Five Star Hotel and not inside the hotel’s lobby as stated by Police, they said.

Citing several authorities, the Senior Defence Counsel submitted that this was a bailable offence and not a serious offence as described by Police investigators to remand the suspects.

The Senior Defence Counsel also submitted that the Major who was injured during the argument was warded at the Colombo National Hospital for one day and had later gone to the Army Hospital to obtain treatment.

The Senior Defence Counsel also submitted that the Police up to yesterday, had not found out why Major Pradeep had been at the Five Star Hotel at that time of day.

He also said the two suspects Malaka Silva and Rehan Wijeratne produced before court had to undergo urgent medical treatment.

CCD Director Ranawaka with Slave Island OIC Chief Inspector Malin Perera, Inspector Ariyasena and SI Indrajith appeared for the prosecution. President’s Counsel Jayantha Weerasinghe, Hemantha Warnakulasooriya, Anil Silva with Jayantha Dias Nanayakkara, Niroshan Perera and Premasiri Perera appeared for the defence.