No pressure to rush Khuram's case

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan-Sunday, 20 Oct 2013

Attorney General, Palitha Fernando refuted claims that his Department had been subjected to political influences and interferences over its investigation into the murder of British tourist, Khuram Shaikh. "There was no influence whatsoever. Nor was any international pressure applied to 'quicken' the trial, he said, in an exclusive interview with Ceylon Today. It was a judicial matter and no one can pressurize his Department to 'rush'," he said.

The Attorney General's Department, which had been dragging its feet for two long years over taking legal action against the murder of Khuram Shaikh, finally charged six men, including the Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, who is a close confidant of the ruling family, with offences including murder... ...possession of unlawful weapons and the gang rape of Shaikh's partner. The much-delayed arraignment of suspects was made in the wake of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Colombo next week. The Attorney General, however, defended the delay.

"It's unethical to ask us to 'hurry up' the case. We are not a ministry or an organization that issues press releases or that has a media spokesperson to issue updates on a crime scene," he said.

He added, "This does not mean we have kept the public in the dark. We are handling a sensitive murder trial, where a foreigner is involved."

British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who had decided to attend CHOGM, brushing aside appeals for a boycott by human rights groups, has said he would ask for the justice for the murdered British aid worker. Last week, the AG revealed that a direct indictment has been filed against the six suspects. "There are some cases that run into years, not only in Sri Lanka but anywhere in the world, and it cannot be rushed or hurried. It is a sensitive matter and you need to gather every bit of information you need and that is not easy." he said.

He admitted that there was a major delay in obtaining the DNA report from the Ragama Hospital due to 'lack of resources'. He, however, claimed that the matter will be expedited now without any further delay. Asked whether the forthcoming CHOGM pushed the AG's Department into action, the AG said, "That is an absurd claim. We can assure everyone that there is no influence exerted over this case. There is no political interference.

"We treat this case as a matter of national interest and has appointed a special prosecutor to handle it."

He added that he is not involved in appointing the special prosecutor and had left it to be handled by the Criminal Division of the AG's Department.

"I still don't know who will be the prosecutor representing the AG and I will not appoint him, but leave it to the Criminal Division to decide. If I appoint him, then there would be another story that I have appointed so and so," he opined.