Court informed about plot to assassinate Shani Abeysekera
December 4, 2023 10:11 pm
The Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal today that intelligence agencies have uncovered information regarding an alleged conspiracy to assassinate the former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Shani Abeysekera, by intentionally causing an accident while he is traveling.
Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General, revealed this to the court when the writ petition filed by Mr. Shani Abeysekera, requesting the court to issue a directive to the respondents including the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to provide adequate protection for him due to threats to his life, was taken up for consideration today (04).
The writ was called before a judge bench comprising President of the Appeal Court, Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice Vikum Kaluarachchi.
The court had previously issued an order to the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses to submit a report on the nature of the threats against Mr. Abeysekera.
When the petition was called before the court today, Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya stated before the court that the Intelligence Division of the authority has sent a report detailing the nature of the threats against the petitioner.
President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya, who appeared for the petitioner Shani Abeysekara, presented facts before the court and said that they cannot be satisfied at all with the protection presently given to his client.
Pointing out that only an old motorcycle and three police officers have been deployed for the former CID chief’s protection, he alleged that although the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses had issued a directive to the IGP to provide adequate protection to the petitioner, it has not been fulfilled thus far.
After considering all the facts presented, the Appellate Court bench ordered for the petition to be taken up once again on December 14 to issue an appropriate order regarding the petition.
