Wellampitiya police OIC files complaint against bail given to nine copper factory workers

COLOMBO (News 1st): The OIC of the Wellampitiya Police filed a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission over the incident of granting bail to nine workers who were arrested at the Wellampitiya copper factory. The factory is said to be owned by one of the suicide bombers responsible for the 04/21 attacks. Wellampitiya OIC Gamini Hewavithana in the complaint notes that the police requested courts to deny bail to the suspects. However, the OIC claims that neither oral or written submissions made by the police were included in the Magistrate's records. Nine copper factory workers were arrested by the Wellampitiya Police and another was arrested by the Police STF. When the suspects were produced before courts after being in remand custody for 14 days, nine of them were released on bail. At the time Police informed courts, that the suspects had used between 02 to 08 SIM cards and were paid Rs. 30,000 monthly as a salary. The police report further said the men spent most of their time outside the copper factory, visiting Colombo and its surrounding urban areas. Presenting facts as per the provisions of the Bail Act, the police requested courts to deny bail to the suspects. When Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage inquired, the act under which the suspects were investigated, police said that it will be announced at the next hearing as the probe was still underway. However, nine suspects were released on two surety bails of Rs. 500,000 each.