Indo-Lanka kidney racket: Remaining seven suspects sent to detention camp again

(Published in Daily Mirror on 24/06/2016)
 
By Shehan Chamika Silva

 Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya directed the Prison Authority to send the seven suspects, who were arrested over the immigration law violations in connection with the Indo- Lanka kidney racket, to Mirihana Detention Camp again.

Earlier, the first suspect, Vijitha Giri Kumar, had escaped while detained in the detention camp in Mirihana and subsequently the court transferred the suspects to Colombo Prison.

However, the Magistrate ordered the CCD to inform Nugegoda SSP to provide a special guard to the Mirihana Detention Camp.

Additional Solicitor General, Chethiya Gunasekara, appearing for the Attorney General’s Department requested the court to provide a maximum time period of one month to conclude the investigation on the seven suspects in the inquiry. He did not objected to send the suspects to the Mirihana Detention Camp, since the approval documents of kidney transplants pertaining to the suspects were true.

However, Colombo Crime Division informed the court that the suspects had no legal passports with them and had arrived in Sri Lanka violating Immigration Laws.

The Counsel appeared for the suspects, Thusitha Gunasrkara and Chathura Dissanayeke said their clients arrived in Sri Lanka only with the bona fide purpose of donating kidneys and they were not aware of the alleged large scale kidney racket.

The Magistrate also directed the police to investigate on the questionable arrival of the suspects to Sri Lanka on the purpose of donating kidneys without informing the Immigration Authorities about their reason of arrival.

The further Inquiry was put off for July 5.