Police made mistakes in the arrest of Dr Safi: CID

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Criminal Investigations Department has informed courts that the police had committed mistakes when arresting Dr Mohamed Shafi Sahabdeen of the Kurunegala teaching hospital. This was revealed when the police reported the current progress of the investigations in question. The CID is also taking steps to inform the Ministry of Defence that Dr Mohamed Shafi Sahabdeen cannot be held further under the prevention of terrorism act. Dr Mohamed Shafi Shabdeen who was employed at the Kurunegala teaching hospital was arrested on May 25th, over three allegations. The allegations include;

• Obtaining money from a terrorist organization
• Utilizing such funds to purchase assets to fulfil the objectives of the respective terrorist organization.
• The possibility of Dr.Shafi going into hiding to avoid violence that may have arisen due to the tense situation that prevailed in the area

The suspect was produced before the Kurunegala Magistrate yesterday, (June 28) along with a 210 page B report by the CID. The report states that based on the reports submitted to the CID by the Superintendent of the Kurunegala Police Mahinda Dissanayake, a statement was recorded from Dr.Shafi on May 24th. The B report further adds that May 25th has been mentioned as the date in documents following the arrest. The B report further states that sufficient information was not available prior to the arrest of Dr Shafi. Dr Shafi Shabdeen is further detained by the CID, and the progress report on the ongoing investigations is due to be produced to courts on the 11th of next month. Meanwhile, Ven. Athuraliye Thero has submitted a complaint to the acting IGP regarding the inefficiency of the ongoing investigations on Dr Shafi.