Investigations into Kapila's death are deliberately delayed - iPhone data expires in 90 days

Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara, severely criticizing the slow pace of police investigations into the mysterious death of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena, yesterday (14) ordered the court registrar to inform the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in writing of his displeasure regarding the matter.

Specifically, the Magistrate emphasized in open court that the investigations conducted by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) regarding the retrieval of data from Mr. Chandrasena's 'Apple' mobile phone, who was found dead under suspicious circumstances by hanging, were unsatisfactory.

Although the inquiry into this death, which occurred on May 08, was concluded within a month, the police have so far failed to submit crucial evidence such as the Government Analyst's reports, the post-mortem report, and mobile phone data to the court.

The Magistrate, stating, "The court alone cannot carry out this process," strongly emphasized the need to expedite the investigations.

When the complaint related to the incident was called yesterday, the Colombo Crimes Division informed the court that an email message had been sent to Apple Inc. in America via the Ministry of Justice on August 11 (another report also states August 18) requesting mobile phone data. The police stated that the company had informed them that the relevant data could only be securely stored for a period of 90 days, and since there was no response thereafter, a reminder was sent. That 90-day period is scheduled to end in November.

At this point, the Magistrate questioned the police, asking, "When three months are over, will the data be gone, and the investigations also be over?" The Magistrate further questioned why, if there was difficulty in obtaining such critical data, it was not reported to the Inspector General of Police or the Attorney General. He then ordered the Colombo Crimes Division to immediately inform them and report to the court the future steps taken in that regard.

Furthermore, the police informed the court that reports on the four types of medicines found at the scene where the deceased was found, which were sent to the Government Analyst, have not yet been received. The Colombo Crimes Division stated that upon inquiry by phone, the Government Analyst informed them that it would take another two to three weeks to provide those reports. In addition, the post-mortem report of the incident has not yet been received by the police.

Accordingly, the Fort Magistrate ordered that reminders be sent again to the Inquirer into Sudden Deaths and the Government Analyst, instructing them to promptly submit the relevant post-mortem report and Government Analyst's reports to the court. The Colombo Crimes Division was further instructed to obtain the advice of the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General regarding the progress of the investigations.

The delay in the post-mortem and forensic reports related to this case had been reported previously, and it was reported on July 8 that the Magistrate had previously ordered the Government Analyst's report to be expedited.