Drug lord sentenced to death

Sandasen Marasinghe

Drug Kingpin Mohammed Samoon Mohammed Shiyam convicted for possessing nine killogrammes of pure heroin was sentenced to death yesterday by Colombo High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne.

Shiyam was taken into custody by the Police Narcotics Bureau with bags of heroin weighing 23 kgs at his residence at Ward Place on November 28, 2003. Colombo High Court sentenced Jayagodage Upali Abeygunawardena to death while Shiyams's wife Murshida Shiyam was sentenced to life imprisonment on December 14.

They were indicted along with Shiyam with six counts including possession of nine kgs of heroin and aiding and abetting for trading. While the judgement was delivered on December 14, Shiyam who consumed a toxic substance was produced before the JMO. He was produced before the Colombo High Court yesterday.

A group of PNB officers led by Inspector Priyantha Liyanage took the accused into the custody with bags of heroin weighing 23 kgs on November 28, 2003. The Government Analyst's Department revealed that it contained nine kg of pure heroin.

Deputy Solicitor General Shavindra Fernando and Senior State Counsel Chethiya Gunasekara appeared for the Attorney General.

President's Counsel Tirantha Walaliyadda, President's Counsel Rienzie Arsakularatne and Attorney-at-law Anil Silva appeared for the first, second and third accused respectively.