‘Cancerous’ sapphire

Radiologist, assistant used Cancer Hospital equipment to turn fancy stones to sapphire:

SANDASEN MARASINGHE

COLOMBO High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne yesterday convicted a radiologist of the Maharagama Cancer Hospital and an office assistant of the Epidemiology Unit for misusing radiology equipment of the Cancer Hospital to turn fancy stones to Sapphire (Pushparaga).

The Court convicted radiologist, Wijekoon Mudiyanselage Nelson Bandara of Silagama, Belihuloya and office assistant Ariyapala Rajapakse of Parakaduwa, Ratnapura, sentenced them to two years’ RI suspended to 10 years.

Evidence revealed that Bandara had misused the radiology equipment on January 24, 1996 around 7.30 p.m. and Rajapakse aided and abetted Bandara.

Bandara in his statement said he received Rs. 1,500 to turn a few fancy stones to sapphire in a time. Rajapakse stated that he had helped Bandara to turn more than 100 fancy stones to sapphire owned by two dealers.

Police revealed that Bandara had a separate key of the radiology room of the Maharagama Cancer Hospital. Whenever Bandara misused the equipment, he made Rajapakse to lock him inside the radiology room so that nobody would suspect and when the job was finished, Rajapakse let him out.

On the day in question, security personnel had suspected Rajapakse’s presence near the radiology room and handed him to Police after questioning.

The Court also imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 on Bandara and another two years’ RI in default while the Court imposed Rs 12,000 fine on Rajapakse and another two years’ RI in default.

State Counsel Chethiya Gunasekara appeared for the prosecution.