Court order to release passport

Sarath Malalasekera

Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Kanishka Wijeratne granted an application by President's Counsel Upali Gooneratne and released the passport of Corey Philip Nowalk, a US naval officer.

Earlier, Philip and his Sri Lankan wife were arrested by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) for allegedly attempting to send through a courier, a parcel containing 53g of cocaine.

The defence had maintained that it did not contain any cocaine at all. This was confirmed by the Government Analyst's report received by court.

Later then Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne discharged all three suspects from proceedings.

However, the PNB had in the absence of the defence filed a B report and moved court to retain the passport of Philip of the US navy further as they had sought the advice of the Attorney General.

President's Counsel Upali Gooneratne submitted that there was no legal basis for the PNB to ask for the further retention of the passport of the US Navy officer after the suspects have been discharged from the proceedings. After releasing the passport of the US Navy officer the judge ordered the case to be called on January 27, 2012.

President's Counsel Upali Gooneratne with Deemani Beddewela and Mahesh Wakista appeared for the US naval officer.