Former CCD chief arrested by CID

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday arrested former Colombo Crime Division (CCD) director and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Neville de Silva on charges of kidnapping and illegal imprisonment.

The arrest follows an investigation initiated after a Fundamental Rights Petition was filed in the Supreme Court by a resident of Kuruwita, Ratnapura. The petitioner accused the CCD officers of coercing him to hand over his property and money to a gold businessman in Nugegoda as part of a settlement to a financial dispute arising out of a failed joint venture.

The case dates back to May 2023, when a millionaire businessman from Nugegoda filed a complaint with Western Province Principal DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon, alleging that a business associate had defrauded him of Rs. 240 million. The man, a businessman from Kuruwita, had allegedly promised to set up a gem mining business but had since lost contact. Following the complaint, the case was handed over to the CCD. CCD officers carried out investigations including phone scans and arrested the suspect in Kuruwita. During the hearing, the suspect admitted that he had received money from the complainant, some of which had been spent. He also revealed that he sold a valuable gemstone in Beruwala to repay the debt.

Later, both parties were brought to mediation by the CCD, where they agreed to a settlement, which included signing a legal agreement. The accused had also handed over a van as partial payment, the remaining amount to be paid in installments. Based on the mutual understanding, the CCD, headed by de Silva, decided not to pursue legal action, ending its investigation.

However, the suspect later filed a Fundamental Rights Petition in the Supreme Court, alleging that CCD officers exerted undue pressure to force him to enter into the agreement. A copy of the petition was also sent to the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Following the petition and subsequent investigations, de Silva was arrested yesterday by CID investigators.