The CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekara today gave evidence in a case filed against former DIG Vaas Gunawardena for allegedly exerting death threats to kill CID detectives.
The witness told court that former DIG Vass Gunawardena threatened him and officers stating that “Shani, I am a murderer; you won’t be able to keep me inside forever. When I am out, see what I will do to all of you.” Further trial was fixed for October 27.
When the case came up before High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga, the first prosecution witness SSP Shani Abeysekara told the court that a CID team led by him had to face this incident on July 10, 2013 at the CID headquarters.
The Attorney General had filed indictments against the former DIG former Western Province (North) DIG on charges of having threatened to kill CID detectives who questioned him over the killing of businessman Mohamed Shiyam.
In this case, the Attorney General alleged that on or around June 13, 2013 the CID detectives including ASP Shani Abeysekara and Special Investigations Division OIC Inspector M.A.S. Ranjith Munasinghe had received death threats when Vaas Gunawardene was being questioned at the CID Headquarters on June 13, 2013 over the killing of businessman Mohamed Shiyam.
In a complaint to the CID Special Investigations Division, ASP Abeysekara alleged that the suspect Vaas Gunawardena threatened them saying, “Shani,I am a murderer; you won’t be able to keep me inside forever. When I am out, see what I will do to all of you.”
SSC Wasantha Bandara appeared for the Attorney General. Defence counsel Ajith Pathirana appeared for the accused.