Cops drag feet in hit-and-run case
By Ishara Ratnakara-2016-03-12
Colombo Additional Magistrate Chandana Kalansooriya yesterday asked Welikada Police why they had failed to secure cell phone records and CCTV camera footage of the accident in Rajagriya almost a fortnight ago in which Minister Patali Ranawaka is alleged to have been directly involved. A young motorcycle rider was seriously injured in the alleged hit-and-run incident.
When the case was last heard Court ordered Police to submit in Court Minister Ranawaka's telephone call records as well as any available CCTV footage that had captured the incident. The Court reprimand came when the Welikada Police submitted a motion in Court requesting Court to issue a copy of the Court order seeking records of the minister's telephone calls and CCTV footage.
The Colombo Additional Magistrate had ordered the Welikada Police on 9 March to seek a statement from Minister Ranawaka besides his cell phone records and CCTV camera footage related to the accident which took place on 29 February and which resulted in injuries to youths Sandeep Sampath and Manula Abeysekera. The former is currently in a critical condition at the Colombo National Hospital (CNH).
However, even up to yesterday, Welikada Police had failed to obtain a written Court order to seek the afore-mentioned reports and filed a request for a copy of the order in the case No B. 791/2016 from Court yesterday.
However, even up to yesterday, Welikada Police had failed to obtain a written Court order to seek the afore-mentioned reports and filed a request for a copy of the order in the case No B. 791/2016 from Court yesterday.
Magistrate – There are several orders that have been given related to this case. What are the orders in relation to which you want copies?
Police – Give us copies of all orders related to the case.
Police – Give us copies of all orders related to the case.
Magistrate – The Court has ordered to seek the records of cell phone calls and CCTV camera footage on 10 March, hasn't it?
Police – Yes.
Police – Yes.
Magistrate –Then why did you not seek the copy of the order on that day?
Police – We failed to appear in Court on 10 March.
Magistrate – The copies of the orders are hereby released to the Police. As you have sought the orders after a delay, hereby the Police are ordered to get hold of the records within a fortnight.
Police – We failed to appear in Court on 10 March.
Magistrate – The copies of the orders are hereby released to the Police. As you have sought the orders after a delay, hereby the Police are ordered to get hold of the records within a fortnight.
