High Court issues warrant to produce Sampath Manamperi
– Colombo High Court Judge Rashantha Godawela today issued a warrant directing that Sampath Manamperi, who is currently held in remand custody in connection with a separate case involving two containers of raw materials used for the production of the drug “Ice” discovered in the Mideniya area, be produced before court.
The accused Manamperi is also facing charges relating to the robbery of a lorry of rice at Narahenpita in 2009. It was alleged that the suspects, posing as police officers on August 12, 2009, near the Narahenpita junction, intimidated a Tamil businessman transporting rice from the Eastern Province to Colombo and robbed him of the lorry of rice, cash and a mobile phone in his possession.The Attorney General has filed indictments against Sampath Manamperi and three others in connection with this incident. The stolen rice was valued at around Rs. 1 million.
When the case was taken up today, Counsel appearing on behalf of Manampri submitted that his client was already in remand custody over another case and therefore sought consideration from court. The Judge accordingly ordered that a report be submitted at the next hearing regarding his remand status.It was also revealed that another accused, Neranjan Perera was not present in court when the case was called. Counsel informed court that the accused was presently in remand custody following orders from the Matara Magistrate’s Court in relation to a separate case concerning the possession of “Ice.”
