Rifkaan Bathiudeen, a brother of former minister Rishad Bathiudeen who appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) through his lawyers yesterday (22), has been remanded until June 06 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne, today (23).
Bathiudeen, a former Northern Provincial Councilor, was taken into custody for failing to assist the CID in investigations into the alleged sale of 280 acres of land in the Talaimannar area using forged deeds.
President's Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, appearing on behalf of the suspect, submitted to the court that the former Provincial Councilor had purchased 40 acres of the land legally and sold the same plot later on. Indatissa pointed out that there were no charges against Rifkaan Bathiudeen with regard to forging documents which had also been accepted by the Courts previously.
Accused of avoiding CID!
President's Counsel Kalinga Indatissa has requested the court to release him on bail as there is no specific evidence to support that his client is involved in this crime.
After considering the submissions of both parties, the Magistrate ordered the CID to remand the suspect until June 06 as the suspect had not arrived at the CID on a due date.
The case was heard before the same court in 2015 and the two parties in question had reached a settlement. However, court action had resumed following a complaint made recently.
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