Investigators of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) probing into the Navy abduction for ransom case relating to 11 missing youth told the Fort Magistrate’s Court this week that it has reasons to believe that Former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda was willfully being uncooperative with the investigations being conducted. In the B-report submitted to courts this week, the CID noted that it had sought to obtain a statement from Karannagoda recently as it had done on six previous occasions. The investigators had wanted to corroborate statements provided to the CID following Karannagoda’s statements to the investigators.
But according to the CID when investigators had contacted Karannagoda on September 18 to request that he present himself before the CID on September 20, the Ex-Naval Chief had said he was unable to as in the last two months his wife has been gravely ill and receiving treatment at the Welisara Naval Hospital.
“He said he had to attend to her and needed two weeks before he can provide a statement” OIC of the Gang Robberies Unit of the CID, IP Nishantha Silva told the courts.
“While he informed us he was not able to leave his wife’s side as he needs to attend to her however on September 19 he was seen in media attending the event held at the Navy Headquarters to receive his promotion to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet” Silva informed courts.
According to the CID despite claiming he was unable to present himself before the CID due to his wife’s condition, Karannagoda attending the event where he was granted the rank of Admiral of the fleet goes on to show he had willfully attempted to not to corporate with investigators of the case. The CID went on to request the Magistrate to issue an order compelling Karannagoda to appear before the CID to provide a statement on September 26 and 27.
As a result, Karannagoda presented himself before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Friday to provide a statement in connection to the Navy abduction for ransom case.
In February Karannagoda filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an interim order preventing the CID from arresting him in connection with the case. Previously the CID had informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court that it had sufficient evidence to name Karannagoda as a suspect in the abduction of 11 youths.
In March the Supreme Court issued an interim order preventing the arrest of Karannagoda over the case while Karannagoda also undertook before courts that he will corporate with investigators. Meanwhile, the CID also reported to courts, on the statement obtained from former Assistant Solicitor General (ASG) PC Shavindra Fernando in connection to the case. Fernando was the Navy’s Judge Advocate General (JAG) at the time while he was also serving as an Assistant Solicitor General (ASG).
In his statement to the CID, Fernando had admitted he drafted a letter on the instructions of Karannagoda on the items found in the room of Karannagoda’s Personal Security Officer Lt. Commander Sampath Munasinghe. He also claimed however he was not shown these items later revealed to be firearms, ammunition and NIC’s of some Tamil individuals or told the main accused Lt. Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi had also resided in the room where the items were found. He had also told CID that Karannagoda had never provided him information about those involved in the abduction of youth prior or after May 28, 2009, the date Karannagoda lodged an official complaint with the Police in this regard.
According to the statement provided by Fernando, Karannagoda had merely told him that Munasinghe was involved in the abduction of five youth after which he advised Karannagoda that it should be informed to the Police.