Court order to commence investigations into 26 underworld figures who fled the country

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to expedite investigations into twenty-six underworld members who have fled the country using false information and are hiding in foreign countries. It has been revealed that these individuals obtained passports through the Department of Immigration and Emigration using the names and photographs of other people and thus fled the country.

In connection with this incident, the Human Trafficking and Maritime Crime Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department reported facts to the court yesterday (26). There, the Chief Magistrate questioned the CID regarding the submission of investigation progress for only two out of the twenty-six suspects under investigation.

Here, the police informed the court that several fingerprint reports obtained from the Department of Immigration and Emigration had been sent to the Fingerprint Office for examination, and so far, only two reports have been received. However, the Magistrate inquired whether information regarding the fingerprint reports of all relevant suspects had been requested, and the police informed that all reports would be sent to the relevant divisions and investigations would be expedited.

After investigating all the facts presented to the court, the Magistrate ordered the CID to promptly conclude the investigations concerning these escaped underworld gang members and report the findings to the court. Accordingly, the next progress of this investigation is scheduled to be presented to the court on May 04.