Suspended sentences for Hirunika’s supporters in abduction case

By T. Farook Thajudeen

Six supporters of MP Hirunika Premachandra who pleaded guilty to the abduction of a youth from Dematagoda in December 2015 were yesterday sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment suspended for 12 years by Colombo High Court Judge R. Gurusinghe. The convicts were indicted for unlawful assembly, conspiracy to abduct and causing simple hurt to textile shop employee Amila Priyankara Amarasinghe. 

The judge imposed a fine of Rs. 32,000 on each convict and further ordered them to pay Rs. 285,000 as compensation to the victim. The eighth convict in the case was not given a jail term or a fine as he was a minor. He was released on a surety bond of Rs. 100,000.His parents had to sign the bond on his behalf and he should display good behaviour for two years.  The second convict was punished leniently because his job as a public servant would be impacted. The judge made this decision considering the submissions of the Defence Counsel. 

The victim, who is a resident of Kolonnawa working at Lucky Star Showroom along Baseline Road, Dematagoda, was abducted by the group on 21 December 2015 after they had arrived in a Land Rover Defender belonging to Premachandra. Nine suspects, including Premachandra, were charged over the abduction. Premachandra did not plead guilty to the charges and her trial was fixed for 6 January. Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara appeared for the prosecution.