Intelligence Op led to Sampayo's arrest; Police reveal charges against suspects

The investigations which led to the arrest of Ex-Superintendent of the Negombo Prison Aurudhdha Sampayo was carried out based on the instructions given by the President to the Acting Inspector General of Police and Defence Secretary to crackdown on the drug and underworld criminal activity.

Police Spokesperson SSP Jaliya Senaratne speaking to reporters on Monday (03) said on the 26th of May 2020, the Acting Inspector General of Police instructed the Criminal Investigations Department to conduct an investigation on a piece of credible information which was received.

The investigations were launched on the 30th of May 2020, said the Police Spokesperson, adding based on the credibility of the information obtained, the President had previously instructed to obtain the services of Military Intelligence and the State Intelligence Service.

He said the evidence gathered in the investigations was then handed over to the Attorney General for legal advice, and police were instructed to report facts to the Negombo Magistrate's Court on the 22nd of July 2020.

After a B Report (M20477/20) was filed with court, the Negombo Magistrate ordered the immediate arrest of the 04 suspects namely, Ex-Negombo Prison Superintendent Anuradha Sampayo, Chief Jailor Sarath Bandara, Acting Jailor Nishantha Senaratne and Second-tier Jailor Kalinga Kaluaggala.

These prison officers are charged with illegally providing facilities to the cells of individuals arrested and detained for drug trafficking and related offenses.

Further, they are charged with forging documents for the facilities provided to the cells of the inmates in question.

In addition, the suspects are charged with including inaccurate numbers in their accounts as well as aiding & abetting and conspiracy to commit the said offenses.

The Police Spokesperson said Ex-Superintendent of the Negombo Prison was arrested on Sunday (02) afternoon by the Negombo Police HQI in Kurunegala.

The intelligence operation which led to Sunday's arrest was carried out by the State Intelligence Services and Police Intelligence said SSP Senaratne.

"Anurudhdha Sampayo was in hiding and intelligence officers managed to lure him out of his hiding place," said the Police Spokesperson.

He said the people who the suspect associated were traced using technical evidence and his hiding place was traced.

The Police said intelligence personnel managed to trick the suspect in to leave his hiding place and then proceeded to make the arrest.

A 02-door fridge, a microwave, 02 rice-cookers, and multiple documents were seized by detectives from the Negombo Prison.

The Police Spokesperson further said a separate investigation is taking place to ascertain if money was generated illegally by the suspects by providing facilities to incarcerated criminals and if the money was used to invest in any form of property.

If investigations reveal of such criminal conduct, the suspects will be further charged under the prevention of money laundering act.

The Police Spokesperson went on to note, investigations revealed the suspects had maintained links with drug traffickers and had obtained fake documents and signatures to forge documents as well.

He said the suspects had forged documents to secure the transfer of incarcerated individuals from prisons.

The Police Spokesperson said there was no pressure or influence from any faction to arrest the Ex-Superintendent of the Negombo Prison adding the arrest was solely the result of independent investigations carried out by the Criminal Investigations Department.

Anurudhdha Sampayo will be produced in court on Monday (03).