The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday, grilled former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at his official residence for nearly three hours in connection with the abduction and torture of journalist Keith Noyarh.
The CID arrived at Rajapaksa’s official residence at Wijerama Road, Colombo 7 at around 11.30 a.m. yesterday morning to record the statement and left around 2.30 p.m.
The former President has allegedly been questioned by the CID officials over the telephone call received from then Public Administration Minister Karu Jayasuriya on May 22, 2008 just few minutes after the abduction of Keith Noyarh Jayasuriya had been the first person to inform the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa to secure release of Keith Noyarh
The CID officials have allegedly asked the former President about the actions he took on receipt of the telephone call from Jayasuriya.
The CID will disclose all details regarding the statement obtained at the next court date before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court on August 20, according to the CID.
Earlier, the CID team had also travelled to Australia to obtain a statement from Keith Noyarh.
Journalist Keith Noyarh was abducted from near his home on Waidya Road, Dehiwela on May 22, 2008 and was subsequently released several days later having been tortured severely.
The former President has allegedly been questioned by the CID officials over the telephone call received from then Public Administration Minister Karu Jayasuriya on May 22, 2008 just few minutes after the abduction of Keith Noyarh Jayasuriya had been the first person to inform the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa to secure the release of Keith Noyarh.
The CID officials have allegedly asked the former President about the actions he took on receipt of the telephone call from Jayasuriya.
The CID had also recorded a statement from Speaker Karu Jayasuriya earlier regarding the abduction. The former Military Intelligence Director and Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General (Retired) Amal Karunasekara is currently in custody over Noyarh’s abduction.
According to Police, Major General Karunasekara who was also the Commandant at Defence Services Command and Staff College, was arrested on charges of aiding and abetting the Keith Noyarh abduction.
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