Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abewickrama Weerasinghe yesterday (29) ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to arrest remaining all suspects within 14 days in connection with the purchase of substandard Human Immunoglobulin vials.
The Magistrate made this order when the case was taken up before the Maligakanda Magistrate Court yesterday.
The Magistrate said that she has observed several primary suspects in connection with the incident, based on the investigation reports.
She said that these primary suspects have not been arrested; instead other individuals have been produced in Court.
In light of this, the Magistrate ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to apprehend these suspects within 14 days.
The Magistrate also stated that the bail order regarding all the suspects who are currently in custody will be announced on that day.
Dr. Jayanath Buthpitiya has been identified by the Court as the 9th suspect in this case.
He was a member of the technical committee responsible for procuring the drugs under scrutiny.
An open warrant in English was issued for the arrest of the suspect by the International Police as the suspect is currently overseas.
The Magistrate said that Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Saman Ratnayake, who had been notified to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department to give a statement can be arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department without a warrant, if the suspicion is proved by the investigators.
The Magistrate also ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to speed up the investigation regarding Saman Ratnayake and Vijith Gunasekara and inform the Court whether they are witnesses or suspects in this case.
The Court also mentioned that the prosecution has not presented the facts of conspiracy regarding the suspects who have been remanded in custody related to the incident and ordered to present the facts to the Court on the next date.
Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama, appearing for the Attorney General informed the Court that the medical report given by the Prison Hospital regarding the failure to produce former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella in Court at the last hearing date was revealed to be false.
The Deputy Solicitor General stated that it is clear according to the reports given by the seven member board of medical experts regarding the medical condition of the former Minister.
The Judge ordered that all suspects be further remanded until March 14th.
(dailynews.lk)
