COLOMBO : Asela Sampath, the National Organizer of the All Ceylon Restaurant Owners’ Association, who was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), was released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Sautrday,June 26.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana Neranjana de Silva warned the suspect not to make any irresponsible statements in the future and ordered that he be released on two personal sureties of Rs. 500,000 each.
Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who appeared for the CID when the suspect was produced before the court, told the court that the suspect was arrested by the CID in response to a complaint they received alleging that the suspect has made false statements on social media regarding the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine proposed to be manufactured in Sri Lanka with the approval of the World Health Organization.
The Deputy Solicitor General pointed out that while a nationwide vaccination program is underway to curb the spread of corona, there is a risk that the process will be hampered due to the baseless statements made by this suspect, who has only passed the GCE Ordinary Level and has no medical knowledge.
The CID has obtained statements from responsible government health officials, including the chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, regarding the incident, and according to those statements, it is apparent that the unfounded statement made by the suspect has caused some discouragement among the public to focus on the vaccination program.
Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris further stated that the suspect was never abducted by the CID officers as claimed by his family.
The Deputy Solicitor General stated that he was arrested after CID officers went to the suspect’s house last night and verified their identities. However, the suspect had unnecessarily shouted claiming that he was being abducted and had acted to provoke the residents of the area.
The suspect was also produced before the Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer after his arrest and a report was obtained confirming that the suspect had not been assaulted in any way, the Deputy Solicitor General told the court producing the JMO report.
Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera, appearing for the suspect, stated that although the plaintiff had stated that the vaccination program had been disrupted due to the statement made by the suspect, they had not presented any evidence to that effect.
Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera had alleged that the suspect had been abducted by CID officers while he was at home with his family members last night and that they had even taken away the mobile phones of the suspect’s children who were studying online.
Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera pointed out that State Minister Channa Jayasumana had sent a summons to the suspect regarding a statement made by him and that he had been arrested by the CID in a conspiracy.
The Counsel further requested the court to release the suspect on bail as he has been charged with a bailable offense.
Accordingly, the Magistrate decided to release the suspect on bail and ordered that the case be re-called on July 22(ColomboPage)
