Underworld figure 'Potta Naufer', serving death sentence for killing a judge, dies of COVID

COLOMBO (News 1st); Notorious underworld leader Mohamed Naufer alias 'Potta Naufer' who was sentenced to death for the killing of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya, had died of COVID-19.

Prisons Commissioner and Prisons Spokesperson Chandana Ekanayake told News 1st said Potta Naufer was admitted to the Prison Hospital after he contracted COVID-19 at the Boossa Prison and was being treated for kidney disease and COVID-19.

In July 2005, Five people accused of murdering High Court judge Sarath Ambepitiya were sentenced to death by a three-bench panel of the Colombo High Court.

The fifth defendant, Mohammed Niyaz Naufer, was convicted of conspiring to murder and of aiding and abetting the killing.

Justice Ambepitiya was shot dead as he arrived home in November 2004. His bodyguard was also killed outside Justice Ambepitiya’s residence in the capital, Colombo