Police arrest absconding Tangalle PS Chief over British tourist’s murder case

Thursday, 23 January 2014 00:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Police yesterday said the main suspect of a British tourist’s murder was rearrested nearly two weeks after the suspect went into hiding. Police Media Spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana said the main suspect of the murder of British tourist Khuram Shaikh, former Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Vidanapathirana was arrested Tuesday night. Vidanapathirana, who was on bail after his initial arrest in 2012, failed to appear in court on January 8 as required under the bail conditions and the Colombo High Court Judge Rohini Walgama issued a warrant for his arrest. Sri Lanka police deployed a special team of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to apprehend the suspect At the time of his arrest the ruling party politician was hiding in Kotte area. Vidanapathirana and seven others are accused of murdering a 32-year-old British Red Cross worker Khuram Shaikh and sexually assaulting his girlfriend at a party in a hotel at Tangalle on the Christmas Eve 2011.