Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara Cleared the Clouds Surrounding the Arrest of Navy Officers.
Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara categorically stated that the arrest of high ranking Navy Officers has nothing to do with the duties carried out by them against terrorism. Arrest was made in connection with the abduction of civilians for money. During the year 2008, 28 civilians were abducted, but investigations were done and completed about 11 civilian abducted and the arrest was made in this connection.
As there were distorted news items in press regarding the arrest of Navy Officers, he was compelled to explain the back ground of the arrest, said Ruwan Gunasekara in a press briefing called in the Department of Information yesterday.
He said, that Navy Officer Lieutenant Commander Sampath Munasighe functioned as the Chief Security Officer of the then Navy commander Admiral Karanagoda.On 29th May 2009, then Navy Commander made a complaint to the CID to the effect that 4 National Identity Cards, Passport of one of them, bullets numbering 450, a mobile phone and Rs10 lakhs value promissory Notes were recovered from the cabin occupied by his former Chief Security Officer and requested an investigation.
The CID on investigation, identified the holders of the NICs as Mannar Soosaipillai Amalan Leon, Soosaipillai Roshan Leon, Kotahena Kasthuriarachchige Antony and Trincomale Thiyagaraajah Jegan
In the meantime further complaints were lodged by the Navy Legal division officers agaist another navy officer, Sampath Hettiarachchi.They alleged to have been responsible for the disappearance of 5 more youths from Dehiwala. They were identified as Kotahena Rajeevnathan, Pradeep Visvanathan, Grandpass Thilakewarar Ramalingam, Maradana Mohamed Jamaldeen and Demetahgoda Mohamed Sajeed. Investigations were carried out about these abductions too.
While investigation was carried out by the CID about these 9 people, CID came to know about two more abduction. They were identified as Dehiwala Mohamed Ali and Kasthuri Arachchi. All together 11 people’s abductions were investigated by the CID, who were able to collect clear cut evidences. Evidence of civilians and Navy personnel from top to bottom were recorded. During the period these youths were abducted and detained abductors contacted the kith and kin of the abductees through the telephone demanding ransom money. For this purpose they used junior navy officer’s telephones. Recordings of conversation done through these telephones were obtained by the CID. Relations have reloaded these phones. From the report obtained from telephone operator’s towers, CID was able to identify the locations where they were detained.
At the same time one of Navy men involved in this abduction took over one vehicle of one of the abductees and used it as Navy Vehicle for his private use. Relations have identified this vehicle.
Deep investigation disclosed the fact that the mobile phone recovered Sampath Munasighe and Hettiarachchi’s cabin was found to belong to one of the abductees, given as a gift by his friend from Great Britain. He came all the way from Great Britain to the CID office recently and identified it.
It is under these circumstances Navy Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake was arrested. He was the operational director of the Navy during the period. During this period apart from navy intelligence unit, there were two separate units operated under his command. Reports regarding his telephone conversation and sim card were obtained by the CID. There were several evidences against him.
These abductions were done solely with the purpose of obtaining ransom money from relations of abducted victims. In this connection 7 navy officers were arrested. In the initial stage of the case Sampath Munasighe was arrested and he obtained bail. All others remain in remand custody.
CID conducted investigated in an efficient manner .Only the courts have to determine whether they have committed any offence. If anyone wants to challenge it, they could do so in the courts of law or human rights organization. We called reports from all three forces and confirmed that none of the abductees were connected with the terrorism.
In reply to questions raised by journalists, he said that although 28 people were abducted in the year 2008, investigations were done only in respect of 11 and the balance will be done in future. As to what happened to these abductees is a proble. Only CID has identified the locations , Colombo Saithiya Street and in a camp in Trincomalee, where they were detained. When UN officials visited Trincomale they referred to a camp , Is it this camp they referred, journalist asked. I don’t the exact camp they mentioned. But that may be the camp. In another question asked whether this has any political connection, he said big NO. He made use of his official power as Chief Security Officer of the Navy Commander in this ransom attempt for money. This has nothing to do with the Srlankan Navy, he concluded.
