DIG says he was transferred for arresting Shafi

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The arrest of Dr. Segu Shihabdeen Mohamed Shafi, accused of having sterilised women without their consent, had led to his transfer, DIG Kithsiri Jayalath, who was previously in charge of the Kurunegala District, the PCoI investigating the Easter Sunday attacks was informed on  Thursday.

DIG Jayalath said Dr. Shafi was a friend of the then Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

Jayalath said that according to intelligence reports, Shafi had received money from the Thawheed Jamaath movement.

“I arrested a number of suspects following the Easter Sunday attacks. Out of whom 45 were arrested after specific intelligence information. One of them was Dr. Shafi and after his arrest I came under a lot of pressure. There was also a social media campaign against me. I was soon transferred to Puttalam.”

A member of the PCoI: “Did Shafi have political connections?”

DIG Jayalath: “Yes, there was evidence linking him with Bathiudeen. There was also information that he was getting money from the Thawheed Jamaath movement. Based on these, I had him investigated and I was transferred out of the division after that.”

Dr. Shafi, who was accused of sterilising a large number of women without their consent was released on bail last year. However, a new investigation into allegations against him is underway.

Dr. Shafi contested the 2015 General Election on the UNP ticket unsuccessfully.