SC Upholds Death Sentence for Ex-DIG

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has dismissed the appeals of former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vaas Gunawardena, his son Ravindu Samira de Vaas Gunawardena, and four police officers. 

The group, previously convicted and sentenced to death for the high-profile kidnapping and murder of millionaire businessman Mohammad Shyam, had sought to overturn their sentences.

They were sentenced to death by the Colombo Special High Court Trial-at-Bar.

The appeals were considered by a five-judge bench of Supreme Court justices, comprising Vijith Malalgoda, Preethi Padman Surasena, Gamini Amarasekara, Achala Vengappuli, and Arjuna Obeysekera. 

The justices reached a unanimous decision to reject the petitions, affirming the convictions and sentences handed down by the lower court.

The Attorney General filed charges against the defendants, including ten counts related to the abduction and murder of Mohammed Shyam which took place on the 21st of May 2013.

Deemed a matter of special judicial concern, the trial was conducted before a Special High Court Trial-at-Bar.

After a thorough trial, the Colombo Special High Court Trial-at-Bar delivered its verdict on November 27, 2015, sentencing the six defendants to death. 

The defendants filed their appeals on December 10, 2015, challenging the Colombo Special High Court Trial-at-Bar's judgment and seeking acquittal.