MP Rahuman complains his mobile phone tapped by CID without court order

By Saman Indrajith

SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman told Parliament yesterday that the CID had tapped his mobile phone without obtaining a court order.

Raising a privilege issue, the MP said: “I have been using this number since the year 2005. Chief Inspector Sujeewa Gunawardana, the Officer in Charge attached to the counterterrorism and investigation department of the CID, summoned a friend of mine and obtained my mobile number. An extensive investigation was carried out on the phone along with all incoming and out-going

calls being traced. What is clear from this is that all my contacts and conversations have been accessed by the CID without obtaining a court order.”

MP Rahuman added that due procedures were not followed, and his rights had been violated as a result

“The CID has violated my rights as a citizen and MP. The officers of CID along with the telecommunications service provider must be summoned before the Privileges Committee of Parliament,” said MP Rahuman.

The MP said that two individuals who were close contacts of the Easter attacks perpetrator Zahran Hashim had been released after being in custody of the Terrorist Investigations Division on the directions of the Attorney General’s office during the latter part of 2020.

“I am requesting Chief Inspector Sujeewa Gunawardana to investigate and find out who pressed for their release.”