*Millionaire businessman killing

July 20, 2013, 9:41 am

By Samantha Illeperuma


The first accused, in the millionaire businessman Mohamed Shyam murder case, Krishantha Koralage yesterday complained to Colombo Additional Magistrate A. H. Sahabdeen that three lawyers, who visited the Court cell, had threatened him saying that he had ‘swallowed the rope given by Shani’ and that they would take care of him later (referring to ASP of the CID who is conducting the investigation into the case).


State Counsel Wasantha Perera said that the threats to the suspects had come not from the CID, but from some lawyers.


Five suspects told court that they did not need any lawyers to represent them.


When the case was called, the suspects, former DIG Vaas Gunawardane, Kridhantha Koralage, Mohamed Fouzedeen, SI Lakmini Indika Baamunusinghe, constables Gamini Sarathchandra, Priyantha Sanjeewa, Kelum Ranga Dissanayake, were produced before Court.


State Counsel Perera, making submissions on behalf of the CID, said that when the case was called last time, objections had been raised when statements were obtained from suspects Koralage, Bamunusinghe and Dissanayake as there was no representation from the Attorney General’s department, but since the Statements had now been obtained, there was no reason for further objections.


The State Counsel said that if there was evidence against the suspects, they would be indicted in the High Court.


He said no cross-examination could be permitted in the Magistrate’s court since statements made there would be used in the higher Court.


Though the suspects were being tried under the PTA, they could also be tried under the criminal law of the country, he said.


Senior Counsel appearing for Vaas Gunawardane told Court that there was an important point to be raised and sought a another date from the Judge.


Counsel appearing for suspect Vass Gunawardane, Attorney-at-law Ajith Pathirana said that the wife and the mother of the first suspect had given him instructions. But, the first suspect denied that claim and said that he was threatended by lawyers.


The CID, making further submissions, said that they were looking for Ravindu Gunawardane, the son of Vass Gunawardane, also a suspect in the case.


The CID told court that two houses in Galle had been searched for the suspect and they had also to recover the weapon used in the murder. The CID produced the clothes worn by the suspects at the time they committed the crime.


The judge ordered the suspects to be further remanded till August 1.

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