SJB MP Rishad re-remanded

2019 Easter Sunday carnage:

By A.J.A. Abeynayake and Norman Palihawadane

Colombo Fort Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage yesterday ordered that MP Rishad Bathiudeen (SJB/Vanni) be remanded until 18 Aug, 2021. He has been in detention for his suspected links to the Easter Sunday suicide bombings (2019), which killed 279 people and injured about 500 others.

Bathiudeen was produced before the Fort Magistrate earlier yesterday. MP Bathiudeen and his brother were arrested on 24 April for allegedly aiding and abetting the suicide bombers who carried out the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Bathiudeen was taken into custody at his residence in Bauddhaloka Mawatha in Colombo, while his brother Bathiudeen Mohamed Riyaj was taken into custody in Wellawatte.

They were initially interrogated under a 72-hour detention order obtained by the CID under the provisions of Article 6(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

However, a subsequent 90-day detention order was obtained pursuant to Article 9(1) of the PTA as the two arrestees needed to be interrogated further.

Police spokesman Snr DIG Ajith Rohana said that the Bathiudeen brothers had been taken into custody for “aiding and abetting the suicide bombers who committed the Easter Sunday carnage.”

Snr DIG Rohana said the brothers had not yet been officially charged but were arrested based on direct evidence, as well as circumstantial and “scientific” evidence.

Investigations into the coordinated terror attacks on Easter Sunday have revealed that Riyaj had maintained direct links with the bombers, the Police Spokesperson said.

Probes had further revealed that Riyaj also rendered financial assistance to the bombers to orchestrate the attacks, Snr DIG Rohana said.