May 9 fracas: Sanath, Milan, Dan told to surrender mobiles

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs Sanath Nishantha, Milan Jayatilleke and Dan Priyasad have been   ordered to hand over their mobile phones to the Criminal Investigations Department.

The order was issued by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage yesterday. The trio were named as suspects in the case filed over the attack on the GotaGoGama and Mainagoga protests site on May 9.

The Magistrate also ordered for the suspects to be held in the custody of Court until they surrender the mobile phones to the CID.

The Magistrate noted that if the three suspects fail to comply with the order, their bail will be cancelled and they would be returned to the remand custody.

President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya appearing on behalf of the prosecution alleged that the suspect Sanath Nishantha had recently participated in a press conference and made certain comments that affects the judiciary.

He also requested the Magistrate to issue an order directing the relevant television channel to handover unedited video clips pertaining to the said media conference to the CID.

Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered the relevant television channel to handover the original videos to the Criminal Investigations Department on the press conference attended by SLPP MP Sanath Nishantha.

The Magistrate also ordered them to conduct an investigation to determine if he made any comments that affected the judiciary.

The Magistrate further issued an order directing the Control Officer of the Temple Trees to handed the CCTV footage with regard to May 9 meeting to the CID.

President’s Counsel Maithree Gunarathne informed the Magistrate that investigations are not being conducted on Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon.

The attorney representing SDIG Deshabandu Tennakoon informed Court that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is also investigating into the incident.

The Magistrate said that no matter what institute investigates, it does not apply to Court.