Delay in investigations regarding Thajudeen case a severe injustice: Colombo Magistrate

The Colombo Magistrate's Court today ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to take steps to expedite the investigations into the killing of national rugby player Wasim Thajudeen.

When the case was called before the courts yesterday, the Deputy Solicitor General Dilan Ratnayake who appeared on behalf of the CID informed the court that the investigation is a complicated procedure and therefore, needs more time to finish it.
 
In response, Colombo Additional Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara pointed out that it appears to him that there is a delay in the investigations.
 
The magistrate, pointing out that the investigations into the killing of Thajudeen commenced in 2012, said such a delay in the investigations would lead to a severe injustice against the aggrieved party as well as the defendants.
 
The Magistrate, noting that investigations have been carried out through various directions, said regardless of the direction, the investigations should be finished to enforce the law against the suspects in the crime. Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered the CID to submit a summary of evidence to the court on the next trial date.
 
The Magistrate also ordered the CID to present submissions on the charges to be filed against the suspects on the next trial date and fixed the case to be called again on the 29th of November.
 
Apprising the court of the progress of the investigations, Deputy Solicitor General Dilan Ratnayake told the Court that reliable information had been received about the use of a Defender vehicle that had been donated to the Siriliya Project to abduct Thajudeen.
 
Thajudeen died on May 17, 2012 in Kirulapone when his car crashed into a wall and caught fire. Earlier it was ruled as an accidental death but the investigations by the CID had found that the player was killed before the accident and the accident was staged.
 
Former Officer-In-Charge of Narahenpita Police Sumith Champika Perera, former Western Province Senior DIG Anura Senanayake and former Colombo Judicial medical officer Prof. Ananda Samarasekara have been arrested in connection with the cover-up after the murder. However, no suspect has been arrested yet for killing the rugby player. (Colombo Page)