Court of Appeal directs Police to provide additional security to ex-CID Chief

Friday, 15 December 2023 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekera

The Court of Appeal yesterday ordered law enforcement officials to provide additional protection to the former director of the Criminal Investigation Department SSP Shani Abeysekera.

An order was issued in response to a written petition filed by Abeysekera requesting an order to instruct authorities to ensure sufficient protection for him due to a perceived threat to his life. The petition was summoned before a bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice Vikum Kaluarachchi.

During the last sitting the Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal that intelligence agencies have uncovered information regarding a conspiracy to assassinate Abeysekera.

President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya, representing the petitioner Shani Abeysekera had informed the court that he was not content with the security arrangements provided for his client.

He had brought to the court’s attention that his client was only provided with an old motorcycle and three police officers for protection. Furthermore, he also alleged that despite the order from the Authority for the Protection of Victims and Witnesses to the Inspector General of Police to ensure ample protection for the petitioner, it has not been implemented thus far.

Accordingly, the order was delivered by the courts ordering the Police to provide additional security to Abeysekera yesterday.