No evidence to prove he hacked into government web portals -CID.
The head of the Information Technology Society of Sri Lanka (ITSSL) Rajeev Yasiru KuruwitageMathew, arrested for allegedly publishing a misleading news item over a cyber-attack, was yesterday, ordered to be released, on bail by, Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The Criminal Investigations Department had arrested the suspect for allegedly posting a false news item on social media claiming, that the websites of the Presidential Secretariat, Foreign Ministry and several other government institutions had been hacked.
The suspect was ordered to be released on a personal bail of Rs.100,000 after being produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala.
The Chief Magistrate observed that the freedom of speech should be utilised in a responsible manner bearing in mind that there are restrictions too.
A group of lawyers along with, Attorney-at-Law Thishya Weragoda appearing for the suspect moved Court to release their client on bail.
The CID objected to the bail application citing that further investigations are underway into the suspect’s attempt to destabilise the Sri Lankan economy and embarrass the government by publishing fake news on social media.
The Chief Magistrate queried CID as to whether the suspect had hacked the websites of the government agencies misusing the passwords.
In response, CID officials told Court that no such incident had been uncovered during the investigation.
Accordingly, the Chief Magistrate questioned as to how investigations could be carried out against the suspect under Sections 6, 10 and 12 of the Computer Crimes Act, and further observed that the inclusion of clauses that were not relevant to the investigation would make it difficult for the CID to proceed with the case properly.
Accordingly, the Magistrate observed that the investigation into the allegations would not reveal the facts that the suspect had committed an offence under the Computer Crimes Act. The suspect was released on bail accordingly.
Further magisterial inquiry fixed for July 1.
