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No evidence of Arthur C Clarke being a paedophile: cops

Sri Lanka's top detective said today there was no evidence that science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke is a paedophile.

"We have come to the conclusion that there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that Dr Clarke ever indulged in paedophilia,'' Deputy Inspector General of Police M S M Nizam said.

The DGP, who heads the Crime Investigation Branch, said he has sought the attorney-general's opinion on how to proceed. The attorney-general can advise the police to close the case or to file a case against the British newspaper and the reporters who had quoted Clarke as admitting he was a paedophile.

Clarke, 80, who has lived in Sri Lanka since 1956, had publicly dismissed the allegations published on February 1, a few days before he was supposed to have received an honorary knighthood during a visit by Prince Charles. The ceremony was indefinitely postponed at Clarke's request to avoid embarrassing the royal visitor.

The world's greatest science fiction writer was quoted by the tabloid discussing alleged encounters with young men.

The police interrogated three of the four men quoted by the paper as claiming to have had sex or discussing sex with Clarke. "Two of them told us that they were given money to say what they allegedly said,'' Nizam said.

Last week Nizam questioned Clarke at his home. "We have recorded every statement that Clarke made and we are satisfied that he has not violated any Sri Lankan laws or committed any crime,'' Nizam said.

Clarke was not available for comment today, but he said last week that he intends to file a defamation case against the British newspaper.

"I know I have done no wrong and I know I am going to win the case. With the money that I will get, I am going to make an underground swimming pool for people in Sri Lanka,'' he said.

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