Colombo High Court Judge Devika De Livera Tennakoon today directed the CID to produce heroin kingpin Samantha Kumara Vithanage alias Wele Suda in court on February 19 to face charges of money laundering.

Senior State Counsel Thusith Mudalige appearing for the Attorney General informed the Judge that the CID had not brought the suspect, Samantha Kumara to court for security reasons.

He requested the defense to obtain the related documents of the case from him in person. President’s Counsel Anil Silva appearing on behalf of Wele Suda told Court that the prosecution had been directed to produce him in court today but the prosecution had not done so.

The AG indicted Samantha Kumara Vthanage alias Wele Suda, his wife Gayani Priyadharshani and Wasanthi Wasundara on charges of money laundering by purchasing houses, vehicles and transacting business using the money earned by peddling heroin.

The CID alleged that the accused had purchased two houses in Kollupitiya worth Rs.50.5 million, one house in Colombo 7 worth Rs.25 million, one house in Rajagiriya worth Rs.20 million, one house in Pannipitiya worth Rs.15 million, one house in Madiwela worth Rs.10 million and a block of land at Dehiwala worth Rs.16 million.

Wele Suda is also alleged to have bought a block of land at Nedimala worth Rs.14 million, a BMW car worth Rs.20 million, a Prado Jeep worth Rs.15 million, a jeep worth Rs.12 million and a balance of Rs.18.2 million at the People’s Bank branch in Kollupitiya.  The CID is also reported to have found foreign currency worth Rs.9.1 million and gold worth Rs.20.1 million in his house at Kollupitiya. (T. Farook Thajudeen)