Absconding convict arrested and imprisoned

The accused had returned to the island after five years and had been arrested by the police and detained at the Negombo Prison, and later produced before the Galle magistrate

A convict charged with housebreaking and theft, and sentenced to nine months rigorous imprisonment, had evaded courts and gone abroad for employment.

However, when he returned to the island after five years he was apprehended by the officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport and produced in court on Monday, July 15.

Galle Chief Magistrate U S Kulasuriya reimposed the sentence of nine months rigorous imprisonment effective from July 15.The accused was identified as Nisal Sampath Aluthwala.

Sources revealed that the accused, when arrested and produced before courts for possessing stolen goods, had submitted an affidavit seeking an early hearing of the case, as he had to go abroad.

Accordingly the police had indicted him, and while the case was being heard he had pleaded guilty to charges on February 14, 2008, and the magistrate had fixed the date for delivering the verdict as June 9, 2008. In the meantime the accused had stealthily left the island on Februarys 23. The trial had continued in absentia and the magistrate had imposed a sentence of nine months rigorous imprisonment.

The accused had returned to the island after five years and had been arrested by the police and detained at the Negombo Prison, and later produced before the Galle magistrate.

The prosecution was led by SI Palitha Ramasinghe of the Galle Police. Attorney at Law Narangoda appeared for the accused.