<P>Seya murder: CID arrests Kondaya’s brother
[October 04 2015]

<P>by Ranil Wijayapala

<P>The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing the murder of Seya Sadewmi, the five-year –old girl from Kotadeniyawa , took into custody the elder brother of Dunesh Priyashantha alias ‘Kondaya’, on Friday. Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said he was being detained for questioning.

<P>Identified as Saman Jayalath, he was arrested in Negombo and was produced before the Acting Magistrate of Minuwangoda yesterday. He is being detained for 72 hours for questioning.

<P>“The CID made the arrest for the verification of the information gathered during the initial investigation,” Gunasekara said.

<P>Dunesh Priyantha alias Kondaya (32) was arrested by the Police in Bemmulla in Gampaha on September 23 and during questioning confessed to the murder of Seya Sadewmi. He was subjected to a DNA test during detention.

<P>“The elder brother of the main suspect is also being questioned and will be DNA-tested,” the Police Spokesman said.

<P>Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police N.K. Ilangakoon has issued special instructions to commence an investigation based on a complaint lodged by the two individuals who were earlier arrested in connection with the same crime and released by the Police. The special inquiry is carried out by Senior DIG Western Province Pujitha Jayasundara.

<P>A 17- year -old school boy and a 31-year-old father of a child were released following DNA testing. Both suspects have complained of police torture and were admitted to hospital.The report by the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) was not submitted to Court at the time of releasing them.

<P>“Police teams headed by Senior DIG Jayasundara will probe into suspects being assaulted during police custody and action will be taken, if the allegation is substantiated,” the Police spokesman said.