CID grills X-PRESS PEARL Captain & Engineers

by Zulfick Farzan 31-05-2021 | 6:10 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Criminal Investigations Department grilled the Captain, Chief Engineer, and the Second Chief Engineer of the MV X-PRESS PEARL on Monday (31) over the onboard fire.

On Sunday (30), CID detectives visited the Wellawatte Hotel where the captain and crew are under-going quarantine. However, statements were not recorded on Sunday as the Captain did not possess relevant documentation.

The Criminal Investigations Department appointed a 10-member team of detectives to investigate the incidents surrounding the MV X-PRESS PEARL container ship.

The team includes 03 Chief Inspectors & an Assistant Superintendent of Police and the investigations are taking place on the instructions of the Director and the DIG of the Criminal Investigations Department.

On the 23rd of May 2021, the Director-General of the Marine Environment Protection Authority filed a complaint with the Harbour Police over the environmental destruction caused by the fire onboard the vessel.

Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said the Colombo Harbour Police presented facts to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court and on the orders of the court, samples were sent to the Government Analyst.

Statements will be recorded from the other crew members in the near future, said the Police Spokesperson.

In addition, a separate investigation is taking place against the people who violated the quarantine rules by leaving their residences in Panumugama, Kochchikage, Negombo, and Dungalpitiya Police Areas to collect debris from the blazing container ship.