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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Kadirgamar murder suspect 'tortured'


The main suspect in the murder of Sri Lankan Former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar informed courts that he was tortured while in police custody to extract a confession.

Muththiah Sagayadevan told the high court in Colombo on Thursday that police officers assaulted him demanding to 'tell the truth'.

The suspect named two police officers.

One policeman beat the suspect's head with poles and his ear drum was burst following assault by the other, the suspect claimed.

As a result, he told court that his hearing is partially impaired.

He told the judge that information about his torment has already been conveyed to the Colombo magistrate and the judicial medical officer.

Muththiah Sagayadevan and Isinoor Arokyanadan who were arrested in July 2005 on suspicion of plotting the assassination of Minister Kadiragamar were later charged with murder.

Minister Kadigamar's killing in a gun attack in Colombo in August 2005 was blamed on the Tamil Tigers.
BBC Sinhala