Borella Grenade : Court orders CCD to conduct an impartial probe

COLOMBO (News 1st); Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya on Tuesday (25) ordered the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to conduct an impartial inquiry into the discovery of a hand grenade in the premises of the All Saints Church in Borella.

The Magistrate had noted that it can be observed that an investigation of some sort is taking place, and ordered the CCD to expedite the process and submit its progress to the court on the 2nd of February 2022.

President's Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne, appearing for the suspects, said he was not satisfied with the investigation into the incident and requested that the IGP be ordered to hand over the investigation to a separate Police Unit.

Neville Abeyratne, PC, who appeared on behalf of His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and at the Rev. Fathers from All Saint's Church in Colombo, requested the court to look into whether a fair and just investigation is underway to arrest the real suspects in order to ascertain the truth.

The President's Counsel further stated that a question arises as to whether the real suspects in this incident have been arrested and produced in court.

Emphasizing that it is a very serious incident, PC Abeyratne requested the court to look into whether the senior police officers were conducting investigations properly to bring the relevant suspects to justice.

Lawyers representing church workers, who are either detained or remanded, presented CCTV footage of a man planting a bomb in a church and observing the scene the day before.

President's Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne, appearing for the detained staff, said that helpless people are being held on detention orders without a proper investigation being carried out into the incident.

The President's Counsel further stated that there was no legal condition to proceed with naming Indika Perera, a church worker, as a suspect in the case. (He remains in remand custody)

The President's Counsel further requested that the suspect be considered for release under Section 186 of the Criminal Procedure Code or be released on bail.

The Magistrate ordered the Colombo Crimes Division to report to the court on the steps that will be taken with regard to the suspect, on the 2nd of February 2022.

Attorney-at-Law Chaminda Athukorala, who appeared for the retired Dr. Shirley Herath, said that the B reports submitted to the court by the Colombo Crimes Division did not mention anything about his client's arrest and detention.

The Lawyer further informed the court that a toy pistol and several legally purchased air rifles were seized by the Police officers including STF, who had visited the house of the retired doctor in Piliyandala, without a court order or a search warrant.

However, he added that the Colombo Crimes Division had never reported the seized instruments to the court through B reports.

Attorney-at-Law Chaminda Athukorala today requested the court to order that the retired doctor be subject to observation.

The Magistrate stated that the matter would be considered on the 2nd of February 2022, and noted that a Court Order was not required to search or arrest anyone under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The Magistrate further stated that the Colombo Crimes Division had reported facts on the suspects since the beginning as per the provisions of the PTA.

Counsel said that on the 17th of January 1000 days were marked since the attacks took place, and a special service was organized for that day Thewatta Church, and it was presided over by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.

He added that the hand grenade was discovered on the 11th of January, adding there was serious concern as to whether this event was orchestrated to sabotage the special service.

Counsel further added that there was a concern as to whether this grenade was placed by those who had vested interests with the Easter Sunday attacks, adding that those who were not connected to these events have been detained.,

On this occasion, the Colombo Crimes Division informed the court that it regrets the baseless allegations made before the court.

The CCD also said that seven suspects have been arrested and one of them was remanded while the others are being detained for the investigations.

The Colombo Crimes Division told the court that all facts regarding the investigations were reported to the courts, and the media is reporting matters that are not related to these investigations.

It told the court that investigations would be expedited and all detained suspects would be produced in court.

However, the Magistrate ordered the Colombo Crimes Division to submit its facts on the three detained church workers on the 2nd of February 2022 citing that while there is National Security, there are Individual Rights as well.