AG to indict suspects in Tangalle murder

The Attorney General is to forward a direct indictment to the High Court without a non summary inquiry relating to the death of Khuram Shaikh, a UK national which took place on 25 December 2011 in Tangalle, the External Affairs Ministry said.

The Ministry said that the Criminal Investigations Department had concluded its investigations and submitted its report to the Attorney General’s Department.

The Government Analyst’s report relating to the DNA evidence is awaited and all arrangements have been made to commence proceedings upon receipt of the same. The Attorney General’s Department is closely monitoring the progress of the Government Analyst in this regard.

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The Government recalled that it condemned the incident strongly following the death and conveyed its commitment to prosecute the persons responsible. After the conclusion of initial Police investigations, the suspects connected with Shaikh’s murder were produced before the Magistrate of Tangalle, remanded, and subsequently released on bail.

The Government says it has made every endeavour to initiate criminal proceedings. A special prosecutor has been nominated by the Attorney General to conduct the prosecution under the guidance of the Addl. Solicitor General, who heads the Criminal Division of the Attorney General’s Department.

The External Affairs Ministry said that during the recent visit of British MP Simon Danczuk to Colombo along with Naseer Shaikh (brother of late Khuram Shaikh), the Government facilitated meetings in spite of the short notice and the busy schedules of policymakers and senior officials to brief on the progress made in the case and to listen to the concerns of the delegation.

“As the case is currently before Court and matter is subjudice, meetings with the visiting delegation could only be facilitated to that extent,” the External Affairs Ministry said.

(Colombo Gazette)