CID begins questioning Bathiudeen brothers

By Hemantha Randuna and Norman Palihawadane

The CID had commenced questioning SJB Vanni District member and All-Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj for their involvement in releasing stocks of copper worth millions of rupees to terrorists involved in the Easter Sunday carnage, sources said.

The Bathiudeen brothers were being held on a 90-day detention order under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), police said.

They would be further questioned on their links to the terror group that carried out the Easter Sunday carnage killing over 269 persons and wounding about 500 others, DIG Rohana said, adding that they were among altogether 702 persons arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks on churches and tourist hotels.

Investigations hav established that Mohamed Ilham, one of the suicide bombers who carried out the Easter Sunday attacks and his father Ibrahim were close friends of Rishad and his brother.

Mohamed Ilham had a copper factory in Wellampitiya and it had obtained stocks of copper removed from government institutions.

Investigations have established that institutions coming under the purview of Rishad Bathiudeen’s ministry had released stocks of copper without following proper procedures to the suicide cadre’s company. That company had received the highest amount of copper from the Rishad’s ministry.