CID told to verify whether S.B. was a suspect or not

Colombo Chief Magistrate yesterday ordered the CID to immediately verify whether the former Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake was a suspect or not over the alleged theft of antiques worth Rs. 150 million from a residence in Colombo 7.

Accordingly, police were ordered to file a report in this regard on December 18.

The concerned residence was owned by Dr. Siva Chinnathambi of Hewa Avenue in Colombo 7 and later it was gifted to the Colombo University. However, it was revealed that valuable antiques worth Rs. 150 million were stolen by someone while the keys of the residence were kept under Cinnamon Gardens Police custody.

However, the CID told Court that they were unable to identify any suspects involved in the incident. The CID said the extracts of investigations have been referred to the Attorney General for his advice.

Counsel K. V. Thavarasa appearing for Minister S. B. Dissanayake informed Court that his client has been aggrieved due to baseless media reports that he was involved in this alleged theft. He moved Court that an order be issued on CID directing them to report in Court whether his client is a suspect or not over the incident.

Senior Counsel Rasika Weeratunga appearing for the complainant party informed that he was objecting to the intervention of the minister as an aggrieved party.

He stated that the minister can take legal action against the newspapers that allegedly involved in tarnishing his image rather than intervening into this case.

Source - Dailynews.lk