AG summons CID to show cause over Riyaj’s release

Attorney General Dappula de Livera

The Attorney General (AG) Dappula de Livera yesterday summoned the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and the chief investigating officer on the

Riyaj Bathiudeen case to meet him today with all material and evidence collected during the investigation. 

The move comes days after 100 Government MPs signed a petition, calling for an inquiry into why Riyaj  Bathiudeen, brother of former Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen, was released and no charges were filed against him regarding his alleged involvement with those who carried out the Easter Sunday Bombings last year. 

According to AG’s Coordinating Secretary State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the AG is expected to seek answers from the head of the CID and lead investigator as to why the suspect was released without consulting the AG. The AG is also expected to question the officers on why the suspect was released after he had withdrawn a fundamental rights violation case he had filed in the Supreme Court regarding his arrest.

The AG has called for all files, documents and evidence on the investigation to be submitted to him today and is expected to advise the law enforcement officers on how to proceed with the matter, having analysed the reports and evidence available. 

The calling to show cause and review of the comes in the wake of former Police Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratne being abruptly transferred to Kankasanthurai on a new posting with DIG Ajith Rohana being appointed as the new Police Spokesman. DIG Rohana has held the post several times before. 

SSP Senaratne’s statements regarding the ongoing investigation in the Riyaj Bathiudeen case has come into question with the release of the suspect, with legal experts questioning if his comments on the evidence that allegedly linked the suspect to the bombers were politically motivated and unprofessional. (AF)