Keith Noyahr, former Associate Editor, ‘The Nation,’ will be giving evidence on his abduction and torture, but only after the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act is amended, sources closed to Noyahr told Colombo Telegraph.
Protest against Keith Noyahr attack | Photo Uvindu Kurukulasuriya
Noyahr was abducted and tortured in 2008. Five Army Intelligence officers including Major Prabhath Bulathwatte were arrested and remanded over the abduction, but later they were able to obtain bail due to Noyahr’s absence.
In February 2017 the Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate instructed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to request Noyahr to appear for an identification parade on March 3. However, Noyahr has refused to appear in court.
If the proposed amendment to the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act was incorporated, it would provide for any witness living outside the county to testify within the premises of respective mission. It is this provision that Noyahr would avail himself of, sources added.
The amendment reads: “Where any evidence or statement of any victim of crime or witness is to be recorded from any remote location outside Sri Lanka under subsection (1), it shall be recorded at the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in the country from where such victim of crime or witness seeks to testify or make the statement.”
The amendment Bill is at the second reading before the Parliament now.
nimal / August 19, 2017
Helping Hambantota filth feeling noose tighten.
/
Mallaiyuran / August 19, 2017
I think so. But will they release Keith’s statement to public.
There is a chance IC believe in Keith’s statements. Lankawe may be pressed by IC to investigate the army war heroes on Keith’s torture. Then, will the army war heros implicate Old Royal war heros? If that happen what will the the status of Royal war heros? Or, is this going to be Sinhala Jury verdict of RaviRaj?Can Ranil save them from this too.
/
Jimsofty / August 19, 2017
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Champa / August 19, 2017
Keith Noyahr originally said he was unable to recognize any of the Army Intelligence Officers who were taken to courts as his abductors or attackers. I hope there is no change of that. My concern is only about them. I have no sympathy for real perpetrators.
I hope there won’t be any attempt to change the Judge who acted impartially and granted bail to Army Officers. All the intelligence officers of tri forces who were imprisoned for murder, crime, torture and disappearance during the last 2 1/2 years were actually sent to jail to cover up real players who had the intention to commit the crime. The Police seem to have avoided sharks who are too big for jails for fear of shark attack and therefore found, arrest and jail small fish who fits inside the cell.
The Court should question the Police of the reason for them to think that these random intelligence officers had any motive or intention to harm the victims.
/
Spark / August 19, 2017
Ha Ha Champa, when u have been drinking patriotic urine for a long time, even basic intelligence levels get befuddled. No where has KN stated “unable to recognize any of the Army Intelligence Officers”. Suggest you read thru CID investigations reported to courts http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2017/04/09/the-keith-noyahr-saga-a-synopsis. The armed forces was a “hench-aiya” base for all criminality of the Rajapakse governance and these uneducated village yakkos did this with arrogant authority and pleasure as at the end of the day they knew they will be gifted with carrots. None of those so called patriotic armed forces bastards had the discipline or courage to standup & refuse perform criminal acts for their Masters bcos they considered it lucrative. Even the sound of Pirith would not deter these monkeys dressed in uniform from killing an innocent being, that was the culture level of these animals. While the top guys who were ordering need to hooked, the bastards who practically carried this criminality should also face the full swipe of the law, that is it is works in this banana republic (despite change of regime). Keep drinking that urine and don’t forget to make more ludicrous bastardly comments.
/
Champa / August 19, 2017
Spark
I don’t care about CID report. My comment was based on the decision of the Judge. Even CT carried an article some time ago citing a statement by Keith to Australian Police (stand for correction) that he cannot recognize any of the intelligence officers.
There is nothing patriotic here. I am seeking justice. Not karmic justice, but true justice.
As everyday knows only you do not know, Tri Forces work for the government. No where in the world they have no freedom to go against the government they are working for. If they do there will be disciplinary action and then there will be prison sentence and their family, children and parents will be devastated. No Army Officer will take any stupid action as suggested by dimwits. That is what discipline means. What you are suggesting is mutiny.
I always standby my country, Wimal Weerawansa and our Tri Forces. There has never been any change, there is no change and there will never be any change.
About my drinking habits, your unsolicited recommendation is not necessary as I drink organic coconut water.
/
old codger / August 20, 2017
Champa,
“No where in the world they have no freedom to go against the government they are working for”
Really? I can always depend on you for a laugh.
/
Champa / August 23, 2017
I was talking about the Army. Mutiny is not a right.
/
Spark / August 20, 2017
“I don’t care about CID report” certainly a punk like you will not, bcos it is not convenient, if the report stated what u liked, then u wud jump to “care” for it.
“My comment based …..decision of the Judge” the bail was given solely by Judge’s prerogative based on inability of victim to appear in court and future appearance of victim being indecisive (obviously due to security). According to law, a suspected perpetrator(s) cannot be arrested for indefinite periods till aspects or appearances or data are incomplete, in this case the appearance of Keith Nohayr. Judges decision is correct, in-fact the evidence was high, the learned judge wanted suspects to appear everyday at CID.
Tri Forces work for State democratically elected by Citizens. Tri forces are not your grandmothers fiefdom or mafia to undertake crimes against innocent Citizens of this country. Tri Forces are to perform duties within the discipline of legality, constitution and sovereignty of the country and not on your mother-fucking grandfathers or grandmothers requirements even if they are rulers. Tri Forces have all right to refuse criminality ordered by politicians or even his own superior, go read the armed forces charter before commenting. It is a minority of yakko bastards similar to you, numbering less than 1000 who jump to wash this type of laundry for politicians bringing disgrace to all the other 499,000 disciplined members of the Tri Forces.
“I always standby my country” – don’t bcos it is a bloody shame to have rascals like you who are absolutely crooked patriots.
Oh certainly do back Weerawansa, Sinha-le or BBS, all utter garbage who have reduced this once beautiful nation to close to garbage.
/
Champa / August 23, 2017
Spark
Usage of foul language doesn’t make your stupid comment correct but shows your inept to present a logical argument to prove your point. I always pity people like you who struggle to prove their points.
Why do you go after army intelligence officers? Because it is convenient? Because you are scared of the real perpetrators? How about the man who gave the order to abduct him and assault him? Who detained him and who ordered him to be released afterwards? Was it the Army who detained him? You don’t have a backbone to raise those questions. Bloody coward. Army officers didn’t have any reason to assault a journalist. Your judgement is better suitable to LTTE jungle courts.
There are no evidence whatsoever to prove that they were responsible for the abduction or assault. There are no eye witnesses. Even the victim is unable to recognize any of them as his abductors. CID arrested them because according to their mobile phone signals, they were in Dehiwela on that day. That was the only reason. CID is yet to find evidence to charge them. This bloody government can do whatever they want. Their days are numbered. Only 2 years to go. Our patience is not weakness. We will make sure bloody witch-hunt against the Army to appease minority will be over once and for all. Every bloody action taken against the Army will be reversed. Every punishment given to them will be revoked. Wait and see.
I repeat. This is my country and I standby my country. I standby Weerawansa and I standby Tri Forces. Today you hear only one voice. When the election time comes I make sure millions of Sinhalese Buddhists say the same and I make sure every bloody blunder and injustice made by this government to appease the minority and the international community is corrected.
/
Jimsofty / August 19, 2017
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Spring Koha / August 19, 2017
Much ado about nothing. Of course the abduction and beating of KN remains a serious matter, but in the course of events KN got away lucky (unlike many others).
Many of the hierarchy are fully aware of the whole story, but they have bigger fish to fry, and so the sleuths will just chase their tails to spend time of day, finally getting nowhere, and no one will have to answer for the hammering that KN suffered.
Only in Sri Lanka.
/
K.Pillai / August 19, 2017
We were well known for “Ceylon Tea” and the Peraheras.
But we now have the (dis)reputation of a country of corruption, nepotism and culture of impunity. Everyone knows that the prosecutors (police and prosecuting counsels) can be bought.
Witness protection will go a long way. If the Keith Noyahr case eventuates, it will be a giant step for Lankan judiciary.
/
anonymous / August 20, 2017
Well done Keith. I admire your patience and courage.
/
Ad / August 21, 2017
Until justice is done nothing will settle down.
/
Thengai Srinivasan / August 21, 2017
Bring in the foreign Judges to teach the Dealdasa and his minion Jarafucksas a lesson!
/
Siddiq Junaid / August 21, 2017
good luck Keith. Be careful of the Field Marshal. We all know who arranged the sadistic depraved attack on you. He and GR were thicks as thieves back then. I am sorry. You did wonderful work to help victims of the Tsunami when you were at Daily Mirror Times Group. Wish you well. I hope you are receiving counseling by psychologists and medications to deal with the humiliation and depression. Be careful of the Kala Veddah. We all know how the attack happened 2 weeks after you exposed his egotistical behavior in the military.
/
Siddiq Junaid / August 21, 2017
I cannot believe the UNP types here who are spewing bullshit. THIS ATTACK was because he exposed SF and ridiculed SF. SF, as everyone knows is very vindictive. SF and GR worked in tandem to eliminate and intimidate journalists. No amount of wearing white national dresses and worshipping at Kelaniya will exonerate the all powerful commander of the military in 2008. That is fact. You damned UNP arses need to know RW is covering up for SF now.
/