The Supreme Court granted leave to proceed in a fundamental rights petition filed by an Attorney-at-Law complaining of the degrading manner she was treated by the Matara Police Station Officers and the harassment she was subjected to when she went to surrender an alleged suspect wanted by the police The petitioner, Ms. Rajika Prasadini Wijethunga [...]

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Lawyer files case against Matara cops for harassment

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The Supreme Court granted leave to proceed in a fundamental rights petition filed by an Attorney-at-Law complaining of the degrading manner she was treated by the Matara Police Station Officers and the harassment she was subjected to when she went to surrender an alleged suspect wanted by the police

The petitioner, Ms. Rajika Prasadini Wijethunga cited Officer-in-Charge (Crimes) Inspector Wasantha Kumara, Headquarters Inspector Chief Inspector Prishantha, the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, all of Matara Police, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General as respondents.

The petitioner states that around May 27, 2013 she received a call from one Renuka Shamali informing her that a few drunken Officers of the Matara Police Station had arrived at her residence and asked for her son and as her (Renuka’s) son was not present at that time she was abused by them in obscene language and ordered to produce her son at the Police Station.

On May 28, Ms. Wijethunga accompanied the son Shamali Sanjaya Greshan to the Matara Police Station to surrender the alleged suspect as requested.

On arrival at the police station she met the 2nd respondent Prishantha and she was informed by him that she had to produce the suspect when the 1st respondent Inspector Wasantha was present.

She returned several hours later at the Matara Police Station and produced the suspect before the 1st respondent Wasantha Kumara. She then inquired from him what the charges were and to record that the suspect surrendered in the presence of an Attorney-at-Law. Both her requests were turned down and she was abused by the OIC and told in strong language not to teach him his job. The petitioner was asked to leave the station after the suspect was taken into custody and locked up in the police cell.

Ms. Wijethunga states that she was informed by her sister who went to the station to see the suspect that the suspect had been assaulted by the police while in detention. She had then contacted the Senior Superintendent of Police, Matara and informed him of the incidents that took place. After the intervention of the SSP the suspect was produced before the Matara Magistrate.

The petitioner in her application states that the actions of the Police Officers were arbitrary, capricious and illegal and violated her fundamental rights under Article 12 (10) of the Constitution.
Justices K. Sripavan, Eva Wanasundara and Priyasath Dep granted leave to proceed and listed the case for support on May 30, 2014.
Attorney J.C. Weliamuna with Indika Nagaratne and Dulip Gunatratne instructed by Q.C. Senaratne appeared for the petitioner.

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