Raising concerns over wrongful detention related to drug cases, Secretary of the Mount Lavinia Lawyers’ Association, Keerthi Fernando, said a suspect who had been wrongfully detained was released from the case yesterday, but was no longer alive as he had died by suicide.
Speaking to the media, Keerthi Fernando said the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court yesterday released suspects in six cases filed by the Dehiwala Police due to no proof of narcotics
He further revealed that the suspect who had died by suicide due to mental stress from the wrongful detention was among those released from the drug-related cases.
“This individual was arrested in May 2024 and later remanded for the possession of 3200 mg of heroin. This is a non-bailable offence, so he was remanded. After three months, he was granted bail by the High Court. However, after 02 months, he died by suicide due to mental stress. When the case was taken up in court again, the Government Analyst’s report declared he was not in possession of any drugs. As such, the judge released him from the case, but he is no longer alive,” Keerthi Fernando said.
He pointed out that there are several more incidents like this, where wrongful arrests and detention are ruining the lives of innocent individuals, such as job losses, broken marriages, and a lack of care for young children.
“These wrongful arrests and detentions are being made by senior Police officials, under the pretext of having experience in judging substances without conducting the necessary investigations. Government funds are also wasted due to such instances, as a report from the Government Analyst’s Department costs Rs. 75,000 and over Rs. 1000 is spent per person per day at prisons,” he said.
Stating that these wrongful arrests were a violation of an individual’s fundamental rights, Keerthi Fernando requested that the Police Department prevent such instances in the future. (Newswire)