Suspect in Lasantha’s murder submits confidential statement to court
A former police officer, who is in remand custody for his alleged involvement in the murder of The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge had made a confidential statement to the court today about the nine-year old crime, the Colombo Page reported.
Former Crimes Office-In-Charge of the Mount Lavinia Police Sub Inspector Tissa Siri Sugathapala has given a confidential statement to the Mount Lavinia Chief Magistrate Mohammed Mihal today.
The suspect was brought to the court from the Welikada remand prison and the statement was recorded for over three and half hours.
The case will be taken up tomorrow.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the former OIC Sub Inspector Sugathapala in February this year for concealing and destroying information pertaining to the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge.
According to the CID, the arrested officer has destroyed the information obtained during the Lasantha Wickremetunga murder investigation by the Mount Lavinia Police and all the evidence that would help to prove the crime on the orders received from the top. Lasantha Wickremetunga was assassinated on January 8, 2009 by four assailants who stopped him on his way to his office on Aththidiya-Mt. Lavinia road, in a suburb of Sri Lankan capital.