• CCD Director denies allegations• Journo makes statement to MagistrateThe Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) is facing further accusations of altering statements of suspects after the legal counsel for journalist Sujeewa Gamage alleged that his client had been coerced into making a different statement regarding his alleged abduction and torture, The Sunday Morning learnt. However, on 18 March, DIG Rohana said that Gamage had faked the abduction and that the CCD investigations had revealed that some of his injuries were self-inflicted. When produced before the relevant Magistrate’s Court, he had given a confidential statement to the Magistrate under Section 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, alleging that the CCD had coerced the confession. Rajapaksha told The Sunday Morning that Colombo Additional Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali had then released Gamage on bail, as there was a question over the statement Gamage had given to the CCD. When contacted by The Sunday Morning, CCD Director SSP P.J.

Source: The Nation March 21, 2021 03:00 UTC