CID arrested Sumith Perera, former Crimes OIC of the Narahenpita Police Station. He was produced before the Colombo Magistrate yesterday and remanded until 5th May 2016. He is reported to have made a statement to the Police.Reported statement said to have mentioned that Thajudeen’s father , who came to the scene of the murder was threatened by the former DIG. From the scene of the murder said DIG has given telephone calls to the former Defence Secretary and Namal Rajapakshe and briefed them the situation. The same officer had allegedly held a closed door meeting with Thajudeen’s father a few days after the killing and exerted pressure on the family to prevent them pursuing the matter further. Further, he said to have instructed Inspector Sumith to destroy all evidences in connection with this murder. However, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera, denied any such statement by Sumith to the press.
In the meantime, one state news paper reported that the Criminal Investigations Department is likely to arrest four other senior Police officers, including a serving ASP and a retired Senior DIG, in connection with rugby player Wasim Thajudeen’s murder. The Police officers are likely to be arrested on the charges of concealing information about a murder and presenting ‘misrepresented reports’ to the court.
However, CID sources also told that investigations were underway to arrest the suspects, who were directly involved in Thajudeen’s killing.
It has now been established beyond doubt that the officers of the Crime branch of the Narahenpita Police Station had handled the investigations into the incident and had determined the rugby player’s death as an “accident”. But the traffic branch of the Narahenpita Police station was never involved in the investigation,” a senior Police spokesperson said.
He said there was evidence to suggest that the death was described as an accident following instructions from a very senior Police officer involved in the inquiry. The entire inquiry has been handled in a flawed and suspicious manner. Former DIG had said it was an accident and there was no point in probing the death.
No proper procedures have been followed and there are loopholes everywhere! There is enough evidence to suggest that they had attempted to cover up a cold blooded murder, because influential individuals involvement in this murder.
There was, however, prima facie evidence to suggest that it was a crime because Thajudeen’s wallet was found 1.5 km away from the place where he was killed,said Thajudeen’s relations.
