Colombo Chief Magistrate Mohommed Mihal yesterday issued a warrant written in English through the International Police (Interpol) for the arrest of the 14th suspect Udara Sampath, who was a close associate of underworld gang leader “Podi Lassi”.
The Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Piries appearing on behalf of the Attorney General’s Department informed the Magistrate that the suspect had fled the country with a fake passport.
He also requested the Court to issue a warrant for the arrest of Arachchilage Rajitha Asanka alias ‘Badowita Loku’, as information has been received that certain corrupt Police Narcotics Bureau officers had sold a large quantity of heroin and ice drugs to him.
Meanwhile, 16 suspects including 13 Police officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau who were arrested on drug trafficking charges were further remanded till February 2.
Attorney-at-Law Ajith Pathirana and Attorney-at-Law Wasantha Pitigala appearing on behalf of the two boatmen (16th and 17th suspects) had earlier informed that their clients are ready to provide the information related to the racket to the Court as a confidential statement.
Accordingly, the Magistrate had issued an order to the Prison Superintendent to produce two suspects before the Court.
However, the two suspects were not produced before the Court yesterday. The Magistrate also ordered the prison authority to produce the two suspects before Court following PCR tests.