The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that they have obtained a detention order from the Defence Secretary to detain and question businessman Fazal Mohamed Nisar for a period of three months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
The suspect was arrested for allegedly sharing defaming posts aimed at Buddhist monks on social media, including Facebook.
Criminal Investigation Department officials told the Magistrate that the suspect had issued various statements on Facebook in a manner that was insulting to various parties, including the monks, and which would act against inter-ethnic harmony.
He also pointed out that investigations have revealed that the suspect spends more than Rs.300,000 every month. It was also informed the Court that according to the investigation, the suspect had been allegedly involved in several controversial incidents. Accordingly, the CID requested the Magistrate to issue an order directing the Superintendent of Prisons to hand over the remanded suspect to the Criminal Investigations Department.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Mohommed Mihail yesterday ordered the Superintendent of Prisons to hand over the remanded suspect to the Criminal Investigations Department. On a previous occasion, the Magistrate had earlier issued an order directing the bank managers to submit the details of the suspect’s bank accounts to the CID. Accordingly, the investigations have revealed that transactions amounting to Rs.62.5 million had taken place from one bank account. The Magistrate fixed further observations for February 1.
