Investigations by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) into the death of Sri Lankan businessman Dinesh Schaffter have revealed a timeline of his murder.
Police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said on Tuesday (20) that statements had been recorded from 08 more people on Monday (19).
The CID had recorded statements from Schaffter’s wife and his business partner, Executive Officer Krish Perera as well.
SSP Thalduwa said investigations are underway on various leads and the suspect is yet to be identified.
As per the investigations conducted thus far, a timeline of the murder has been established.
The CID probe has uncovered that Dinesh Schaffter had left his residence at Flower Road, Colombo at around 1:55 in the afternoon and had visited a restaurant at Malalasekera Mawatha in Colombo for a quick meal.
Around 2:15 in the afternoon, Dinesh Shcaffter’s wife had sent a WhatsApp message inquiring if he would be back soon.
According to the investigations, former cricket commentator Brian Thomas has revealed that he had received a WhatsApp message from Dinesh Schaffter around 2:42 in the afternoon.
Responding to the message which was reportedly similar to “I am waiting for you”, Brian Thomas had responded that there was no need to meet.
At around 2:43 in the afternoon, Brian Thomas also received another WhatsApp Message from Schaffter, where the latter had said he deleted all messages as requested. Responding to this by Whatsapp, Brian Thomas questioned when he had made such a request from Schaffter.
The CID investigations further revealed that Schaffter was already at the Public Cemetery in Borella by 2:45 in the afternoon.
Brian Thomas had informed the CID that he had grown suspicious of the WhatsApp messages sent to him, as it was not the regular style of Schaffter and did not contain his level of English proficiency.
As per the CID probe, Schaffter’s business partner Krish Perera had found him at the Borella Public Cemetery unconscious around 3.55 pm and had admitted him to the Colombo National Hospital around 03.55 PM.
Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa on Tuesday that CID detectives have not concluded their investigations to make any charges over the murder. (NewsWire)