Lawyers request AG to prosecute Acting IGP for torture

Saturday, 6 January 2024 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Civil Society group, the Lawyers Collective in a letter to Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam requested him to prosecute respondents of the Fundamental Rights Application 107 /2011 including Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon.

The Collective in its communique noted that the Supreme Court found Tennakoon and two other police officers were found guilty of infringing upon the Fundamental Rights of petitioner Ranjith Sumangala guaranteed by Articles 11(1), 12(1), 13(1) and 13(2) of the Constitution relating to freedom from torture, the right to equality and freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention and punishment.

The Collective noted that it should be clear to the Attorney General that the apex court’s findings would constitute the offence of torture Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The organisation said therefore the Attorney General must prosecute the said officers for the offence of torture. They also noted that due to an independent investigation into the incident which cannot be carried out while Tennekoon remains the Acting IGP, Rajaratnam must advise appropriate authorities to interdict Tennekoon pending investigation.