Police Media Spokesperson SSP Jaliya Senaratne speaking at a press conference at the Police Headquarters in Colombo said that SSP Abeysekara was arrested for concealing and fabricating false evidence in the case filed against eight suspects including former DIG Vass Gunawardena and his son over the alleged possession of firearms.
“Following the arrest, SSP Abeysekara was taken to the CCD for further interrogation,” he said.
According to Police sources, in 2013, a stock of weapons was discovered hidden in a house in the Kalagedihena area in Gampaha by former SSP Abeysekara and two other investigation officers and produced them before the Gampaha Magistrate’s court as production list of the case filed against DIG Vaas Gunawardena.
“Among the seized ammunition were six T56 firearms, 1 revolver, 2 pistols, 4 bore-12 firearms and 533 bullets (9mm, 5.5mm, 7.62mm and 0.36mm),” he said.
Following that, two Police officers, the owner of the house where weapons were found and his wife testified before the court regarding the incident.
However, after considering further investigation reports regarding the incident, the Gampaha Magistrate ordered to name those four persons as suspects in the case after recording their statements.
After that, they filed a revision application before the High court and they were named as the suspects in the case and it was rejected by the High Court.
Accordingly, following the Attorney General instructions that two Police officers were arrested on June 1 and June 2 and and were produced them before court while the owner of the house and his wife were produced before court on June 11, 2020.
Following that, they were released from the case after testifying before the court again stating that at the time of the seizure of the firearms, SSP Abeysekara allegedly brought the firearms and hid them in his house.
After considering their statements, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the Colombo Crimes Division to commence an investigation regarding the matter on June 24.
Following a lengthy investigation, it was revealed that SSP Shani Abeysekara had concealed and fabricated false evidence over former DIG Vass Gunawardena’s case.
Accordingly, SSP Shani Abeysekera has been arrested after a team of officers from the Colombo Crimes Division reported the matter to the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court.
The Police Spokesman said that two more suspects had been identified in connection with the incident and investigations are continuing.
Add new comment