Retired senior Army officer arrested for attack on journalist Keith Noyahr further remanded

Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court yesterday further remanded the former Chief of Staff of Army, retired Major General Amal Karunasekara, who was arrested last month in suspicion of the abduction, and assault of journalist Keith Noyahr in May 2008.

Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court remanded the former chief of the Army Intelligence till 20 August  when the case over the attack of journalist Keith Noyahr was resumed today.

The Criminal Investigation Department has produced the progress of the tests on the case through a further report. The CID told the Court the progress of investigations with respect to the statement obtained from Keith Noyahr after visiting Australia will be submitted to the judiciary in the future.

The CID last year arrested eight suspects including six army personnel in connection with the journalist’s abduction and assault. Retired Major General Amal Karunasekara is the eighth suspect.

Keith Noyahr, the former defense writer and the Associate Editor of English weekly The Nation was abducted by unidentified men on 22 May 2008. He was found a day later badly beaten up and with head injuries. Noyahr left the country following the attack.