The arrest of two more suspects, including the second shooter, in the murder of businessman Club Wasantha has brought to light more information related to the shooting.
The suspects were arrested near the Panadura bus stop yesterday based on a tip-off. Following their arrest, the suspects have reportedly revealed that the Police’s move to seek public support for their arrest had resulted in them being unable to find refuge.
Interrogation of the suspects revealed that through the coordination of an individual residing in Dubai, they had been brought to a house in Athurugiriya a few days prior to the shooting.
According to media reports, the suspects said that the day after the incident, another individual arrived at the house and instructed them on the shooting, showing them a photograph of Club Wasantha as the target. However, they did not recognize this individual at the time. It was only after the murder, when they saw the evening TV news, that they realized they had shot Club Wasantha.
The individual had also provided the two shooters with T-56 firearms with ammunition marked with the signature KPI, after which he had left the house.
Further interrogations had revealed that one shooter had assumed singer Sujeewa’s husband was a private security officer of Club Wasantha and had hence opened fire at him, after which he had fired at Club Wasantha until running out of ammunition. It was revealed that the second suspect had thereafter, opened fire at Club Wasantha as well.
Following the shooting the two suspects had travelled in the car to a spot where they had then transferred to a van, after which they had travelled to Kadawatha, and from there to Matara in a bus. Another individual is said to have arrived and taken possession of the weapons, after having reached Matara.
In Matara, the suspects said they had been in hiding during which underworld figure ‘Loku Patti’ who is residing in Dubai, had reached out to them via a telephone call and had extended his wishes for carrying out the shooting.
The suspects had revealed that only after news reports emerged did they realise they had been involved in the murder of Club Wasantha. The Police said investigations have found that the suspects had received Rs. 250,000 on multiple occasions for the murder.
From Kataragama, the suspects had split up but were unable to find refuge due to the Police having sought the public’s assistance to apprehend them.
The Police said the suspects had revealed at this point, that they had received instructions from Dubai to move to former Western Provincial Councilor Amal Silva’s house. The suspects had resided at Amal Silva’s house for nearly 20 days during which time, the former Provincial Councilor had also provided them with mobile phones.
Following the multiple arrests, the Police were able to recover a 9mm pistol and ammunition bearing the markings of KPI from the house in which the suspects had stayed in Athurugiriya prior to the shooting.
The suspects have been handed over to the Athurugiriya Police for further investigations.
Meanwhile, during interrogations by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), the suspects revealed that the shooting had been organized by ‘Loku Patti’. (Newswire)