Riyad Bathiudeen was released by CID on unjustifiable grounds; AG

The Attorney General on Sunday (11) summoned the DIG in-charge of the Criminal Investigations Department and the Chief Investigating Officer to the Attorney General's office on Monday (12) along with all investigative material over the release of Riyad Bathiudeen by CID.

State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General speaking to News 1st said accordingly the AG met with DIG Prasad Ranasinghe who is in charge of the CID, CID Director SSP Prasanna De Alwis, ASP Vijitha Perera, and Chief Inspector Sugath Kumara with respect to the matter.

Riyad Bathiudeen, the brother of Ex-Minister Rishad Bathiudeen was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department on the 14th of April 2020 based on seven phone calls made by Insaf Ahamed, the suicide bomber responsible for the attack on the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, to Riyad Bathiudeen.

Detention orders against Riyad Bathiudeen were obtained by the CID on the 17th April 2020 and 13th July 2020.

Though the detention orders were to expire on the 13th of October, the Criminal Investigations Department on the 06th of September 2020 had concluded its investigations and on the 28th of September 2020 then DIG Nuwan Wedasinghe had made a request to cancel the detention orders.

Thereafter, on the 30th of September 2020, Riyad Bathiudeen was released from the CID.

At the meeting with the Attorney General it was noted the actions of Ex-DIG of the CID Nuwan Wedasinghe and CID Director SSP Prasanna De Alwis with regard to the release of Riyad Bathiudeen and for stalling investigations have hampered the further investigations on the matter.

State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General further said it was observed the decision to release Riyad Bathiudeen was made on unjustifiable grounds.

Further, it was revealed the Criminal Investigations Department had failed on the following points:

- Failure to conduct an investigation against Riyad Bathiudeen on Money Laundering

- Failure assign an experienced and knowledgable officer to conduct investigations with regard to Money Laundering

- Failure to conduct extensive investigations on Terrorism Activity

- Failure to locate 12 of the 16 mobile phones used by Riyad Bathiudeen

State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General further said the Attorney General had given written instructions to the DIG in-charge of the CID with regard to conducting further investigations and special measures which need to be followed.

The DIG in-Charge of the CID was also instructed to produce all investigative material within one month.

Attorney General Dappula De Livera had noted the release of Riyad Bathiudeen by the Criminal Investigations Department is unjustified.