INDIAN NATIONAL DETAINED FOR 3 MONTHS
COURT ALSO DIRECTS DIG NALAKA DE SILVA TO APPEAR BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT ANALYSTS DEPARTMENT TODAY FOR THE VOICE IDENTIFICATION TEST
Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday allowed the CID to detain Marsili Thomas, an Indian national, for three months under the custody of the CID for more interrogation to be conducted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The Indian national was produced before court yesterday after being arrested by the CID at the residence of Namal Kumara.
The CID satisfied the court on the approval (detention order) that they obtained from the relevant authority to detain the suspect for three months under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
When questioned by the Magistrate as to why he was at Namal Kumara’s residence, the prosecution informed that according to the statements of the suspect, he had wanted to inform Namal Kumara regarding an attempt to kill him. Based on the suspect’s statement, the prosecution also informed that the suspect had earlier immigrated to Sri Lanka as he had death threats from a non government organisation in India called ‘RSS’. Initially he was in Sri Lanka on a tourist visa and later had applied to remain under asylum, which has not been obtained to date.
The Magistrate also informed the prosecution about the legal action that can be used against him for violating the immigration laws.
When questioned, the CID said that the suspect had survived in Sri Lanka by seeking donations from churches and also by conducting tuition classes for students in accountancy.
However, the prosecution also sought Court to produce the suspect before relevant medical officers and clinics to check his physical and mental condition.
The Magistrate also ordered the CID to produce the suspect in Court on October 23 for observation.
Meanwhile, the Court also directed DIG Nalaka de Silva to appear before the Government Analysts’ Department at 10 a.m. today (28) to conduct a voice identification test with regard to allegations of a conspiracy levelled against DIG Nalaka De Silva in relation to a telephone conversation.