Counsel for Pilleyan alleges govt. bid to force confession

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Gammanpila, who appears as counsel for Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pilleyan, detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), alleged yesterday that the CID had prevented him from speaking freely with his client in violation of the principle of lawyer-client confidentiality.

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Appreciating the Director CID SSP Imesha Muthumala granting him access to the leader of the TMVP (Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal), within three hours after he sought an opportunity to meet the former LTTE frontline cadre, turned daring rebel, Gammanpila said that four police officers remained with them throughout the 30-minute meeting.

Gammanpila alleged that the four men remained there though he advised them that a suspect, regardless of the accusations made against him/her, shouldn't be deprived of an opportunity to speak with his/her lawyer confidentially. The former Minister said that one of the personnel had even taken down notes.

Addressing the media at his Pita Kotte office, Gammanpila said that the way the police handled the matter compelled him to go public with the injustice. The former lawmaker also alleged that the police furnished information about Pilleyan’s arrest to a select group of journalists as part of their strategy to increase pressure on his client. “Therefore, I decided to go public”, he said.