The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) informed the Colombo Fort Magistrates Court today that there is evidence that the Chief-of-Defense Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne kept the fugitive suspect Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi alias ‘Navy Sampath’ hidden in the Navy Headquarters to evade arrest.
The CID told the court that in the statement given to the CID, Hettiarachchi has said that he was ordered by the Admiral Wijegunaratne, then Navy Commander not to go out of the headquarters since there is an arrest warrant against him.
When Hettiarachchi was at the naval headquarters, his wife and another relative had visited him several times, the CID told the court.
The CID provided this information when the case filed against CDS Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne for harboring a suspect involved in the abduction of 11 youth was taken up for hearing today (03) at Colombo Fort Magistrates Court.
Former Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi alias ‘Navy Sampath’ is the main suspect in the abduction and disappearance of 11 youths committed during 2008-2009 period to extort money from parents.
Former Navy Commander Admiral Wijegunaratne and businessman Laksiri Amarasinghe have been accused of abetting the suspect Hettiarachchi to evade arrest despite being issued an arrest warrant against him.
The CID during today’s hearing told the court that further investigations will be carried out regarding the misappropriation of Rs. 500,000 from the Navy Welfare Fund to assist the suspect to flee the country.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake ordered the CID to report the progress in the investigation when the case is taken up for next hearing on July 17.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had told court that out into the case by utilising records of telephone conversations concerning the accused.
Accordingly, the Magistrate had informed the CID to present a report on its investigations during the next hearing before court.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
