CID permitted to detain Indian national under PTA

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday allowed the CID to detain Marsili Thomas, Indian national, for three months under the custody of the CID for the purpose of more interrogation 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 the Namal Kumara's place, the prosecution informed that according to the statements of the suspect he wanted to inform Namal Kumara an attempt to kill him.

Based in the suspect's statement, the prosecution also informed that the suspect earlier immigrated to Sri Lanka as he had death threats from one non-government organisation in India called 'RSS'. Initially He was in Sri Lanka on tourist visa and later had applied to stay under asylum which is to date not obtained.

The Magistrate also pointed out the prosecution about the legal actions that can be used against him for violating the immigration laws as well.

When questioned, the CID also said that the suspect had survived in Sri Lanka by seeking donations from churches and also time to time conducting some tution classes on accountancy for students.

However, the prosecution also sought Court to produce the suspect before relevent medical officers and clinics to get his mental and other sicknesses tested.

Also the Magistrate ordered the cid to produce the suspect before Court in one month's time on october 23 for observation.

Meanwhile, the Court also directed DIG Nalaka de Silva to appear before the Government's Analyst Department today (28) 10 a.m. for the voice identification test to be conducted in respect with the allegations of a conspiracy leveled against DIG Nalaka De Silva with the discovery of a certain phone conversation.