CID awaiting Govt. Analyst report-- Hizbullah
Deputy Minister Economic Development M. Hizbullah told the Sunday Times that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was waiting for the Government Analyst’s report on Khuram’s killing.
“On behalf of the Minister of Tourism, I met the brother of the deceased Nasir Shaikh and British MP Simon Danczuk and assured them that the CID was making arrangements to take up this case in the High Court. who had lost limbs in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Khuram was killed instantly, by a group heavily intoxicated, and his partner, a 23year old Russian national Victoria Alexandrovna, was assaulted and dragged to the beach. She was later found on the beach with her clothes in tatters.
Among the suspects was 24-year-old Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandra Pushpa Vidanapathirana. The others were the chairman’s private secretary Mohottige Saman, Nalagama Pradeep Chaturanga, Saman Deshapriya, Obada Arachchige Lasitha, Niroshan Weerakoon, Manoj Prasanna and Buddhika Pradeep.
The suspects surrendered two-days after the incident and were remanded. On November 2012, the eight suspects were released on bail by Tangalle Provincial High Court Judge Lalith Wijesekera.
“The suspect politician being released on bail came as shocking news, and I was devastated, irrespective of whether he is the key suspect or one of the eight suspects. As it was a murder investigation, I thought that the custodial part of being remanded for 11 months should have continued till the point of a trial. This gives me and my family a wrong message, because it proves that he is a suspect, but allowed to walk free until the trial,” said his elder brother Nasir.
He said that they had given the opportunity to let the investigations take its course, but throughout the year, it has been only words with no substance behind it
“Now 15 months have passed since my The government will take all measures to expedite the case,”he said.
The Minister denied any political involvement in this case. brother was brutally murdered, and the suspects out on bail, with no further trial taking place. We need to speed up the process, and for that, we need to meet senior officials. We have questions on forensics, the chief suspects and reason behind delays. Khuram’s role in society was huge, not only his friends and family, but also his organisation, the Red Cross,” said Nasir.
He said his family is still grieving the death of their loved one, and his father visits the grave many days of the week.
“My brother is gone and all the suspects are walking free. It is heartbreaking to the family. ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’ should not happen in my brother’s case. This will reflect negatively on the tourism industry,” he said, adding that this was his first visit to this beautiful country.
Sri Lanka has the highest number of tourist arrivals from Western Europe. The United Kingdom is second to India in tourist arrivals.