Wasim Thajudeen’s death isn’t a mystery anymore - investigators conclude:

It is murder!

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

www.adaderana.lk

www.sundayobserver.lk

There is much that is known but unsaid, at least publicly, about national rugby star and Havelocks Sports Club Captain, Wasim Thajudeen’s mysterious death in May 2012. The purported cause of his death had been at first, an accident (the manner of which experts have failed to explain, according to investigators). Next, it was said that Thajudeen, one time the island’s most popular ruggerite, died ‘under mysterious circumstances.’

But the investigators are now almost nearing the end of the investigation, and are overruling that the star player died under ‘mysterious circumstances’ – which also meant that he burnt to cinders in his own vehicle after he skidded and rammed into a wall is likely to be resolved, according to sleuths who now determine, Thajudeen’s untimely demise was not due to an accident. It is murder most cruel!

In a bid to ascertain the truth behind Thajudeen's death, the second son of VVIP with strong links to rugby and to the life of the late rugger player, is to be questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) along with several others.

This follows a submission by the CID on July 27 before the Colombo Additional Magistrate that the Wasim Thajudeen's death was not an accident but a murder. The next day (28), Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris instructed Judicial Medical Officer Ananda Samarasekara to submit a full post-mortem report on Thajudeen's death before September 10.

Forgotten

"Dust was expected to settle on this case and to be consigned to the history of Sri Lanka's many unresolved recent murders. It seems that finally there is a possibility of justice for him," a close associate and a former player and a close associate of Thajudeen said.

"He was the nicest guy to hang out with and to laugh with. Few knew Wasim the way we did. He lived and loved," added the associate, who also remarked that the 'unexplained silence' of family and friends should be understood by the people 'In its appropriate context.'

For the rest of the country, unaware as to how Thajudeen unwittingly irked a powerful young VIP, he was another man, sadly killed in a road accident in Colombo, on his way to the airport when he had purportedly lost control of the car and crashed into the wall of Shalika Grounds down Park Road, Colombo 5. The car had exploded within seconds of the crash, burning the motor vehicle. But the player's wallet was discovered from somewhere else, sleuths say, without any trace of being burnt. That was the first sign they received that this may not be a mere accident.

The CID, according to inside sources, had discovered more evidence that support the new cause of death.

On Thajudeen's burnt body, there were traces of the impact of a blunt weapon, including at least one on the back of his head.

There were also wound marks, including one on the neck, purportedly caused by a sharp weapon. The investigators have also reached the conclusion that several parts of the body had been slashed by the use of a blunt weapon.

According to CID observations made in court, ribs had been fractured. However, thigh bones and a muscle of the right leg had been cut by a broken bottle. They also concluded that several of Thajudeen's teeth had been broken - by direct assault.

Making these submissions, the CID had also impressed upon the Court that the initial post-mortem report and the Government Analyst's report on the former Sri Lankan rugby player's death were, at the very least, extremely contradictory.

The port-mortem report had indicated the discovery of Carbon Monoxide in Thajudeen's lifeless body. The Government Analyst's report had immediately contradicted this assertion, fuelling further controversy. As the investigation takes a new turn with expert reports purportedly being contradictory, sleuths have sought the advice of the Attorney General's Department, in order to make further inquiry.

As a next step, upon magisterial instructions, the CID is to now gather details of Thajudeen's telephone details, including the final calls made and received. Already, police had been instructed to obtain reports from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) and Dialog Axiata on the same.

Fresh moves

There had been serious concerns about the delay in meting out justice for Thajudeen, says his lawyers and associates.

Amidst silence that is unexplained but well understood in a country that had witnessed much violence in areas other than the former war zones, concerns are being expressed about possible suppression of evidence at the outset, given the nature of the matter at hand.

it is the emerging evidence Wasim Thajudeen died on May 17, 2012 in Kirulapone when his car crashed into a wall. IGP N.K. Illangakoon directed the CID in February this year to expedite the investigation into this death after the Government Analyst's report on the death was released after a lapse of two years.

The CID also submitted that these facts were revealed when the officers were questioned on the flaws of the Government Analyst's report and flaws in the postmortem report of Thajudeen's remains.

The CID also prayed before Court to order those officers who conducted the postmortem to issue the final report of the postmortem as the same has not been issued.

The CID also prayed to summon before court the Judicial Medical Officers who conducted the postmortem.

The Court postponed further hearing for today.

The police investigators found Thajudeen's wallet in a place which the police declined to name.

Meanwhile, Asfan Thajudeen, the brother of Wasim Thajudeen, said on his Facebook profile a few days ago that his family did not believe there was any "foul play" in connection with the tragic accident which led to the Rugby player's death. "So far not a single proof of evidence has come up to proof otherwise," he also added.

Wasim Thajudeen, a Sri Lankan ruggerite and former Havelock SC captain, was killed in a road accident in Colombo, in May 2012. According to Police, Thajudeen had been driving to the airport when he had lost control of the car and crashed into the wall of Shalika grounds on park road.

The car had exploded within seconds of the crash burning the whole car.

The death of former Havelock's Rugby captain, Wasim Thajudeen was not accidental but a murder, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Colombo Additional Magistrate today.

The CID informed Magistrate Nishantha Peiris that the investigations conducted so far had revealed that Mr. Thajudeen's teeth had been broken, the bones in the pelvic region also broken and his neck pierced with a sharp instrument prior to his death. The CID added that muscles in his legs had been cut with a piece of broken glass.

The CID said the government analyst's report and the postmortem report on the death of the ruggerite appeared to be contradictory and that the death was not an accident but murder.

Further magisterial inquiry into the matter was postponed for tomorrow (28).

The former Havelocks SC captain Wasim Thajudeen was killed, apparently, in a road accident in Colombo in May 2012.

Grounds for suspicion

Earlier the police had said that Thajudeen was driving to the airport and had lost control of his car and crashed into the wall of Shalika Grounds on Park Road, Narahenpita, and that his vehicle had exploded within seconds of the crash.

Although police said the death was accidental, SSP Ajith Rohana, on February 26 this year, said there were grounds for suspicion. He said that according to the JMO his death could not have been due to the accident.

(Lakmal Sooriyagoda)

The Criminal Investigations Department informed court on July 27 that the 2012 death of Rugby Player Wasim Thajudeen in 2012 is suspected to be a murder.

Wasim Thajudeen's charred remains were discovered inside a car, which had reportedly crashed into a wall near the Shalika Grounds in Narahenpita on May 27, 2012.

The CID noted at the Colombo Magistrate's Court on July 27, 2015 that since there were disparities in the reports of the judicial medical officer and the post-mortem examination, the responsible officials were questioned and information had come to light that foul play may have been involved in Thajudeen's death.

The CID then requested court that a summons be issued on the relevant medical officers and also requested court to call for the JMO's report. The Colombo Magistrate's Court then made an announcement saying the matter would be taken up the following day, July 28. As announced the case was taken up again and as a result the Colombo Magistrate's Court ordered the five specialist doctors who investigated the death of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen be summoned before court. Later that day, court ordered that the investigation into the death of Thajudeen, whose body was found close to the Shalika Grounds, be re-examined.

The order also stated that, as the investigation on this incident was based solely on hearsay evidence, the doctors be summoned for statements to be directed to the Attorney General for legal advice. The additional magistrate also ordered that a detailed report on the case be submitted before Sept. 10, 2015. Following CID's revelation to court saying that the late ruggerite's death is suspected to have been a murder, the political stage exploded and multiple views were expressed at a number of media briefings regarding the case.

UNP Colombo District Candidate Sujeewa Senasinghe stated that there are doubts and that the then-Government did nothing as it was involved in the incident.

More views were expressed by the Leader of the National Unity Front Azath Salley and General Secretary of the UPFA Susil Premajayantha.