• Large amount of data to ensure lengthy examination
• Forensic examination of Brian Thomas’ phone yet to commence
• CCTV shows Schaffter drove to cemetery alone

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is to carry out a forensic examination of a mobile phone which belonged to murdered businessman Dinesh Schaffter and a mobile phone owned by former cricket commentator Brian Thomas, as part of the ongoing murder investigation, The Morning learnt.

Well-placed sources told The Morning that the forensic examination of Schaffter’s mobile phone has already commenced, but that it would take a long period before it is completed as there is a large amount of data in the phone.

However, the forensic examination of the mobile phone belonging to Thomas has not yet commenced.

It was further learnt that the CID has checked the footage provided by eight closed-circuit-television (CCTV) cameras around the scene of the murder, which have revealed that Schaffter drove his vehicle into the cemetery, and that he was the only person in the car.

Janashakthi Group Director Dinesh Schaffter was found close to death on 15 December in his vehicle outside the Borella Cemetery, and died later in hospital. Media reports state that Schaffter was due to meet his debtor, who is suspected to be Thomas, who was arrested last year over an alleged Rs. 1.4 billion financial fraud, after Schaffter had lodged a complaint against him with the CID in 2019.

Schaffter was found by his employee on the instructions of his wife, who tracked him via GPS technology after failing to reach him on his mobile phone. Afterwards, Schaffter was immediately admitted to the National Hospital of Colombo, and had passed away in the Intensive Care Unit that night (15).

Issuing a statement after Schaffter’s death, his family requested the media and the public to respect their feelings and privacy as they wait for the accurate facts to be established.

“Dinesh was the very best of us and the heart and soul of our family. He has made untold contributions to business and sports, passionately challenged injustice, and supported countless worthy causes. He will be remembered foremost for his unending devotion to his family and friends and generosity, even towards strangers,” read the statement on behalf of the Schaffter family.