Ward Place heroin case hearing continues

Sandasen Marasinghe

COLOMBO: Colombo High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne yesterday observed that the Court would continue to hear the Ward Place heroin case setting aside the motion filed pleading to put off the case until the determination of the application filed before the Court of Appeal. The High Court observed that the motion had been filed on behalf of the second accused of the case J.U. Abeygunawardana.

The Court observed that although the Court of Appeal ordered to watch the video tape, the Court could watch it at that stage. It would not affect to the case and the Court could continue the hearing. The Court also observed that the motion had been filed only on behalf of the second accused but not in connection with the process against the first and the third accused.

The Court instructed the prosecution to continue the oral submission. The Attorney General indicted Mohammed Samoon Mohammed Shiyam, Jayagodage Upali Abeygunawardana and Murshida Shiyam alias Murshida Mubarak Murshida with six counts including for possession of 9 kg of pure heroin.

The group of PNB officers led by Inspector Priyantha Liyanage took the accused into the custody with bags of heroin weighing 23 kgs on November 28, 2003 at the residence of the first and the third accused at Ward Place. The Government Analyst's Department revealed that it contained 9 kg of pure heroin.

Deputy Solicitor General Shavindra Fernando and Senior State Counsel Chethiya Gunasekara appeared for the Attorney General.

President's Counsel Tirantha Walaliyadda, President's Counsel Rienzie Arsakularatne and Attorney-at-Law Anil Silva appeared for the first, second and third accused respectively.