Church grenade: Sacristan bailed out
Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya yesterday ordered the release of Sacristan Francis Munindran who was detained on suspicion over the live hand grenade found inside the All Saints Church in Borella based on submissions made by the Attorney General.
When the case was taken up before the Magistrate, Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris appearing on behalf of the prosecution stated that the investigation had revealed that the worker in the church had no link to the incident.
President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne on behalf of Francis Munindran, thanked the AG for releasing his client.
Attorney Chaminda Athukorala appearing on behalf of Dr.Shirley Herath, who is currently in custody, urged prosecution to submit a summary of investigation against his client.
Making submissions, SDSG Dileepa Piries claimed the retired doctor had mentioned in his statement that he would have a mental imbalance between the fourth and the eighteenth every month after the death of his wife. He further stated that investigations have revealed that the next bomb was scheduled to be placed inside a school.
He further highlighted that investigations have revealed that the retired doctor was also behind the planting of hand grenades at the Lanka Hospital and Bellanwila Temple premises late last year. SDSG Dileepa Peiris said that the doctor had not revealed any information about how he got the grenades.
Neville Abeyratne PC appearing for Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and the Vicar of the All Saints’ Church in Borella said he expects the Colombo Crimes Division to conduct the probe in an impartial and transparent manner.
Senior Counsel Chaminda Athukorala further stated that his client was 75 years old and suffering from a number of ailments. He also noted that the prosecution claims that the suspect goes off the rails once a month is not so and his client does not have such a condition. His relatives confirm that this is not so.
SDSG Dileepa Peiris said the media had misinterpreted the order made by the Magistrate regarding the investigations conducted by the CCD during the previous calling date.
Accordingly, the Magistrate advised journalists to act responsibly when reporting on Court cases.
The case will be heard again on March 29.