Muthalif murder case :

Superintendent issued notice to appear in court

Sarath MALALASEKERA

COLOMBO: Colombo Additional Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday issued notice on the Superintendent of the Welikada Remand Prison to appear in court on March 27 to explain to court why he did not comply with a court order to produce, Athularalalage Karunaratne alias Anura Desappriya, a suspect in the murder of former Chief of Army Intelligence Lt. Col. T.N. Muthalif.

Earlier, the Magistrate directed the Welikada Remand Prison Superintendent to produce Desappriya to record a statement in connection with Muthalif's murder. When the case was called the suspect was not produced in court.

The Criminal Investigation Department probing the murder told the Magistrate that they are investigating to ascertain about the cellular telephone used by one suspect in remand prison.

The CID submitting a further report in connection with the investigations said they are investigating into several documents found in the possession of suspect Indurugolla Vidanaarachchige Sanjeewa.

The CID said investigations into the murder had revealed that Sanjeewa, described as a journalist, the first suspect in the killing, had aided and abetted to kill the Army Intelligence Chief.

The CID told the Magistrate that investigations into the killing had also revealed that Sanjeewa knew about Muthalif's killing.

The other suspects are Athugalralalage Karunaratne alias Anura, Armugam Sendil Kumar alias Rajan of Kopay, Rajaratnam Saraswathie alias Umma of Ratmalana, A.R. Karunaratne alias Anura Desappriya of Ratmalana, Mohamed Anzar alias Mohamed Rizvi of Maligawatte, Fathideva Saroja and Karunaratne Mudliyaselage Shamalee of Welikanda.

The CID said investigations into the murder are not completed and moved court to remand the suspects pending the completion of investigations.

The Magistrate remanded the suspects till March 27.

Muthalif was killed on May 31 near the Kirillapone colour lights while on his way to attend to an official work.

According to investigations the suspects in custody also planned to attack the Air Force armoury at Ratmalana.