SRI LANKA: An innocent man is illegally arrested, tortured and laid with a false charge by the Wattala Police

January 19, 2012

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION-URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-003-2012



19 January 2012
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SRI LANKA: An innocent man is illegally arrested, tortured and laid with a false charge by the Wattala Police

ISSUES: Illegal arrest; arbitrary detention; torture; impunity; rule of law
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Dear friends,

Mr. Narahenpita Gamage Sisil Weerasinghe (48), a retired soldier was illegally arrested, detained and severely tortured by officers attached to the Wattala Police Station. Sisil had been waiting for a bus to take him home at around 10 pm when the officers accused him of planning to rob a house in the area. When he denied that they started beating him. They then took him to the Wattala Police Station where they continued to torture him. The ill-treatment resulted in his hospitalisation for a broken hand. He was falsely charged with indecent behaviour and fined Rs. 1,500/=.

Mr. Narahenpita Gamage Sisil Weerasinghe
Sisil at no time obstructed or threatened the officers but instead voluntarily gave them all the information they requested. Their illegal action was no doubt the result of their desire to boost their standing with the OIC of the station. This case is yet another illustration of the exceptional collapse of the rule of law in the country.

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