Court orders additional security for former SSP Shani
The Court of Appeal yesterday (14) ordered the security authorities to immediately provide additional security to Shani Abeysekera, the former Criminal Investigation Department Director until January 18.
The court made this order after considering the facts presented when a writ petition filed by Shani Abeysekera was called before the Appellate Court President Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Vikum Kaluarachchi.
Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General, stated that Public Security Ministry has forwarded the intelligence report containing the facts that there are threats to petitioner Shani Abeysekara’s life to the Secretary for necessary action. The Additional Solicitor General informed Court that about a month is needed to study the report and take necessary action.
The Additional Solicitor General mentioned that an agreement should be made between the victim and the security authorities under the Witness and Victim Protection Act and the process is currently underway. He said that it will take about a month to complete the work. President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya, who appeared for petitioner Shani Abeysekara, stated that such time cannot be given. He mentioned that petitioner Shani Abeysekara’s life may be harmed at any time as there are already threats to his life.
The President’s Counsel stated that even now Shani Abeysekera has only been given a motorcycle and one police officer for security and that is not enough at all. After considering the facts presented, the judges ordered security authorities to provide Shani Abeysekara additional protection until the next Court date. It was decided to recall the petition on January 18. These petitions were filed by Shani Abeysekera, the former director of the Criminal Investigation Department.
The Victim Protection Authority, Western Province Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Deshbandu Tennakoon, Commissioner of Police, Attorney General and others are the respondents here. The petitioner says that he requested the Inspector General of Police to provide him with adequate security and that the Inspector General of Police informed him in writing that the request was forwarded to the Defence Ministry Secretary.
The petitioner then referred the request regarding his protection to the Victim Protection Authority and the petitioner points out that not providing protection according to the Victim Protection Act is an insult to Court.
Petitioner Shani Abeysekera, who states that he did not receive a successful response in that regard and he filed this petition because of that.
When this petition was called earlier, Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya, who represented the Attorney General, stated that the intelligence agencies have now uncovered information that there is a conspiracy to kill Shani Abeysekera in a car accident.
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