Open Warrants for Re-Arrest of Acquitted Defendants in Heroin Case

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Supreme Court today issued open warrants for the re-arrest of three individuals who were previously prosecuted and acquitted on charges of transporting and smuggling over 196 kilograms of heroin in the northern region of the Sea of Sri Lanka, in 2019.

This decision was reached after considering the appeals submitted by the Attorney General, which sought to overturn the acquittals granted by Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar.

The petitions were reviewed by a five-member bench comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, Yasantha Kodagoda, Shiran Gunaratne, Achala Wengappuli, and Priyantha Fernando.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Ayesha Jinasena, representing the Attorney General, informed the court that the three defendants had absconded and fled abroad. 

She further indicated that legal measures are underway to extradite them to Sri Lanka.

In light of this, the Solicitor General requested the issuance of open warrants to the police for the arrest and production of the defendants.