White van abductions inquiry: Navy Commander not helping investigations, says CID

 

By Shehan Chamika Silva

 

The CID informed the court today that, disregarding the previous court directions, the current Navy Commander does not assist them over the investigation conducted into the alleged two abductions taken place in 2009 using white vans.

 

The CID, filing a further report, said that the Court had earlier directed the Navy Commander to assist the inquiry; however, he had not been helping the prosecution over the investigations.

 

The prosecution further informed court that it had recorded a statement from former Sub Inspector of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), Wijeysinghe, who was the initial inquiry officer into the investigations pertaining to the so-called disappearances.

 

According to his statement, SI Wijeysinghe revealed that he was asked to prepare a confidential report over the incidents by then senior DIG Anura Senanayake and thereby, under the direction of then CCD’s director, he had handed over the report to the SDIG.

 

However, after looking at the report, SDIG said me to “do nothing about it and keep it as a secret for a while”, Wijeysinghe had stated in his statement.

 

In his statement, he had also revealed that when the so-called report was visible in the initial magisterial inquiry, the report had been changed.

 

Meanwhile, Former Navy Intelligence Officer, Dhammika Anilmapa who was in remand custody in connection with the alleged two abductions, was ordered to be further remanded till April 6 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Jeyaram Trotsky.

 

According to the prosecution, the suspect was the chief Intelligence officer at Welisara Navy Camp at the time the incident was occurred and alleged to have aided to conceal the vehicle used in abductions.

 

Wadiwel Pakkilisami and Rathnasami Paramanandan were were missing since January 2009 and they were allegedly abducted by some unknown individuals using a white vehicle.

 

According to the intelligence sources, the CID told court that the so called abductees were neither suspects into any terrorist activities nor alleged to have involved in such actions.

 

Earlier, investigation into so-called abductions were conducted by then Sub Inspector of the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), Wijeysinghe.

However, during the investigation conducted by CCD, it was interrupted and stopped by then high ranked police officials.

 

Later, following a complaint lodge with the CID by the wives of the abductees, Inspector of Police Nishantha Silva took over the inquiry.

 

On an earlier occasion, the prosecution found the so-called used in the abductions apportioned into 72 parts at a room in Welisara Gamunu Navy Intelligence Unit.

 

The CID said those vehicle parts have been sent to the Government Analyst for further examination.

 

The prosecution also informed court that according to the information revealed from the mobile phone conversations of the abductees, victims were around the Welisara area after they were abducted.

 

The CID also said mobile Phones belonged to Pakkili Sami and Paramanandan had been recovered   in the possession of two Navy officials at the Welisara Camp during the investigation.

 

The prosecution said it had initiated a broad investigation into the so-called abductions and the involvement of the high ranked police officials who had interrupted the initial inquiry.