PCOI has no power to order AG to refrain from performing statutory functions: AG

Attorney General Dappula de Livera PC has informed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to look into alleged political victimisation of public servants that the Commission of Inquiry has no statutory or legal authority to order the Attorney General to refrain from performing his statutory functions regarding the abduction of eleven persons in 2008 and 2009.

On January 23, the Presidential Commission had advised the Attorney General to suspend case proceedings involving former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda and former Navy spokesman Rear Admiral D.K.P.Dassanayake.

The Attorney General’s Coordinating officer, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne told news media that the Attorney General had conveyed his stance in writing to the Presidential Commission on last Friday (24).

A press release issued by Presidential Commission dated January 27 stated that the Commission decided to advise the Attorney General after taking up two complaints made by former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda and former Navy spokesman Rear Admiral D.K.P. Dasanayake on January 22, for consideration.

The Commission further said: “President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed this Commission of Inquiry to investigate allegations of political victimization as well as interference and undue influence on the judiciary and police during the past regime in the wake of the flood of revelations of interference in police and legal matters and other abuses of power during the previous government

Filing indictments in Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar, the Attorney General maintained that information has exhibited that the 14 accused have committed punishable offences which come under section 102, 113 A, 356, 338, 333, 198, 372, 32 and 296 of the Penal Code in respect of conspiracy, abduction with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person, wrongful confinement for the purpose of confinement, conspiracy to extort, extortion, giving false information and conspiracy to commit murder of eleven persons.