Naval Officer in Kotahena abduction case further remanded

Colombo Additional Magistrate Jeyaram Trotsky yesterday ordered to further remand Lieutenant Commander Dhammika Anil Mapa until June 13 in connection with the abduction and disappearance of two individuals in Kotahena.

Defence Counsel Thusitha Gunasekara had asked for an order to carry out a further inquiry about the calls which had been taken by both victims, Vadivelu Pakkiasamy Loaganathan and Ratnasamy Paramanandan.

Refusing the Counsel’s request, Inspector Nishantha Silva informed that both phones were found at the Welisara Navy Camp during the investigations.

The CID Inspector alleged that the suspect had carried out the crime on the instructions by former Navy Intelligence Director Rear Admiral Ananda Guruge.

Also he informed court that the van in which both victims had travelled was found at the Welisara Navy Camp while being discarded and dismantled into several pieces.

However, the Defence Counsel denied allegations against his client but admitted that the Navy Intelligence Unit had taken the vehicle into their custody following a report that it had a bomb hidden inside and therefore ordered to dismantle it for the purpose of searching.

Meanwhile, the Additional Magistrate mentioned that the court had not received any direct evidence to remand the suspect but the suspect was ordered to be further remanded under suspicion for bringing the van to the Welisara Navy Camp and not informing the relevant authorities.