Court orders Wele Suda be produced at next hearing

Kingpin drug dealer Wele Suda was not produced in court due to security risks, on CID advice, State Counsel Thusith Mudalige informed Colombo High Court Judge Devika de Livera-Tennakoon on Thursday.

Gampola Vidanage Samantha Kumara alias Wele Suda, his wife Nayani Priyadarshini and K. A. Jayanthi Priyadarshini (a relative of the couple) were charged on several counts including money laundering. The suspects possessed property worth Rs. 170 million allegedly amassed through illegal dealing in heroin.

The court had previously ordered that Wele Suda be produced in court.

However when the case was called on February 5, only the two female suspects – the wife and a relative of Wele Suda, were produced. Anil Silva PC., the lawyer for the defendant, questioned why his client had not been pro- duced in accordance with court orders.

State Counsel Thusith Mudalige said the CID had advised the defendant be not produced in court due to security reasons.

He said however that steps will be taken to produce him at the next hearing.

Consequently the judge fixed the next hearing for February 19, and ordered that the defendant be produced on that date.