Although no suspects in relation to the murder of Janashakthi PLC Director Dinesh Schaffter have yet been identified, with no arrests made up to date, the Police stated that there is “clear progress” in the ongoing investigations conducted by the Homicide and Organised Crime Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Borella Police.

Commenting to the media on the progress of the relevant investigations, Police Media Spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police, and Attorney-at-Law Nihal Thalduwa said: “Currently, the Homicide and Organised Crime Investigation Division of the CID is continuing with the investigations. Several investigation teams have been deployed 24 hours a day to determine scientific, technical, direct, and other evidence. More than 42 statements have been recorded by the CID, while the Borella Police has recorded more than eight statements since the beginning of the investigations.”

Contrary to various media reports, he said that the CID has not yet arrested nor identified a suspect in relation to the crime, and added that the arrests will be made as soon as a suspect is identified. He also noted the CID’s efforts to obtain and analyse telephone reports. Although a direct revelation has not yet been made, he said that the relevant teams are investigating all related individuals. 

“When this kind of a crime occurs, investigation teams record statements from their closest ones and the people they deal with. So far, no information has been revealed linking Schaffter’s close relatives or other persons to this incident. Statements from his wife have been recorded. In line with future developments, further statements from his wife or anyone else will be recorded if necessary. 

“Investigations are being conducted under a broad scope, and progress has clearly been made. We hope that the criminal/s will be found through data analysis, which the investigation teams are currently engaged in,” said Thalduwa.

When queried by the media regarding whether there had been any contradictions between the statements made by Schaffter’s secretary and his wife, he said that such information cannot be revealed to the media, as the investigations are still underway. He said that the Police’s primary responsibility is to report the findings of the investigations to the court, and that certain information that can be divulged to the media will be revealed only once such information is submitted to the court.

Schaffter died at the National Hospital in Colombo on 15 December after being found tied to the driver’s seat of his vehicle with a wire around his neck. He had left home that afternoon, according to a statement made by his wife, to attend a meeting and had not returned home. His wife had located Schaffter near the Borella Cemetery via Global Positioning System technology-based tracking. 

An employee working under Schaffter had then immediately arrived at the scene, following which he had been taken to the hospital where Schaffter was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The hospital confirmed the same night that Schaffter had passed away upon admission.

The CID has so far obtained footage from a number of closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) systems on the roads leading from Schaffter’s residence in Flower Road, Colombo 7 to the Borella General Cemetery and in areas surrounding the cemetery in relation to this incident. Apart from the scientific evidence, statements from over 40 individuals have been recorded, including Schaffter’s wife and other close associates, former cricket commentator Brian Thomas, and employees of the Borella General Cemetery.

According to media reports, the CID has also discerned that Schaffter, on his way to the Borella General Cemetery, had stopped by a fast food restaurant in the Colombo 7 area, and bought food items for two persons.

During the ongoing investigations, the attention of the CID has been drawn to a message sent from Schaffter’s mobile phone to Thomas’s mobile phone via WhatsApp, saying: “I am waiting for you”. However, it has been revealed that Thomas was at his residence at the time the message was received, and it has now been reported that Thomas had immediately replied to the message, saying: “I don’t need to meet you.” 

The investigation teams suspect this to be an attempt by the criminals to mislead the investigation teams, and therefore, related investigations are being conducted paying attention to the same.