Allegations against Shafi not confirmed ... only two mothers were eligible for examination -- CID

Allegations against Shafi not confirmed ...

only two mothers were eligible for examination -- CID

The criminal investigation department informed court that the bulk of allegations brought against Dr. Shafi Sahabdeen of Kurunegala teaching hospital that he had sterilised Sinhalese mothers as reported in the media does not provide evidence of guilt in that connection; but were merely based on suspicion. The criminal investigation department today (27) informed court that in the course of investigations carried out on Dr. Shafi, there was no revelation at all about incidents of fallopian tubes of mothers being blocked or that he is linked to a terrorist group as such or had earned through malpractices. This was revealed by the CID by forwarding a report containing 210 pages when the
petition against Dr. Shafi Sahabdeen was taken up for hearing in court this afternoon at 2.00 o'clock in Kurunegala court.

The director of Kurunegala hospital has forwarded a report to court to the effect that the said doctor has subjected 3479 Sinhalese mothers, 860 Muslim mothers and 33 Tamil mothers for Ceasarian surgeries and of the 615 complaints received by CID complaining about cases of allergy, 468 reports were submitted to court. The CID further informed that of those complaints, only 147 complaints could be identified on a suitable level of examination and that 13 mothers were directed to a consultants' committee and only 2 were on a suitable level to undergo an examination and that 11 petitions were false. The request made by CID to direct these mothers relevant to this incident for an examination next 30th was rejected by court. Instructions were issued to the consultation board of doctors appointed in this connection to report to court as to in which manner they had conducted their examinations.

The criminal investigation department further reported that it was confirmed by doctors, a large number of nurses and attached staff who worked with Dr. Shafi of whom statements were recorded that the doctor had not engaged in such malpractice as such. The CID finally mentioned that as allegations pertaining to Dr Shafi is not exposed, a decision would be taken after a discussion with the secretary of defence about the matter of detaining him further.