Presidential Pardon for Vesak misused to illegally release several prisoners: Police

Sri Lanka Police says that a statement has been recorded from the Commissioner General of Prisons regarding the controversial release of prisoners on a Presidential Pardon for Vesak.

It is being revealed that at a certain number of prisoners have been released illegally during this process, the Police Media Division said.

Issuing a statement in this regard, the Police Media Division announced that a complaint was forwarded to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) by the Presidential Secretariat on June 06. The complaint alleges that in addition to the prisoners pardoned under the recent Vesak Poya Day amnesty program, several prisoners were unlawfully released by the prison considering them as prisoners who had been pardoned.

The CID has launched a comprehensive investigation based on the complaint and has questioned the Commissioner General of Prisons. A statement has also been recorded from him, and further documents are to be examined and additional statements are to be recorded, according to the Police Media Division.

According to the investigations conducted so far, it has been revealed that a certain number of prisoners were illegally released on the Vesak Day by misusing the Presidential Pardon.

The statement further noted that the CID is investigating all relevant prison officials, including those involved in the illegal release of prisoners under the Presidential Pardon.

According to the facts revealed during the investigation, it has also emerged that prisoners who were not approved for release were included among those to be released under the Presidential Pardon during previous occasions as well, the statement said.

Accordingly, the statement further states that the CID, which is continuing its investigations, has also initiated an investigation into the illegal release of individuals convicted by the courts, through the prison.