Lanka sentences former policeman and 5 others to death

A former senior Sri Lankan police officer, his son and four policemen were sentenced to death by the high court here today for abducting and murdering a businessman in 2012.
Former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vass Gunawardena, and his son Ravindu were found guilty for the abduction and murder of businessman Mohamed Siyam and sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar.
He became the highest ranking police officer ever to be convicted for murder.
His role was only discovered when CCTV footage showed Shiyam being taken away in a vehicle driven by Gunawardena's son.
Four policemen who worked with Gunawardane were also found guilty and sentenced by the court for their involvement in the murder.

Following investigations conducted into the incident, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had arrested Sub-Inspector Lakmini Bamunusinghe, attached to the office of the DIG Western Province (North), along with three Police Constables serving in the DIG's special unit.
Siyam was abducted and murdered in the Dompe area on May 22 in 2012. Gunawardena was arrested in June 2013 and was remanded in custody. He was arrested just a month after being promoted as a DIG.
It was alleged that he had taken money to intervene in a transaction between the deceased Shiyam and another businessman. Gunawardena was known for his work to combat underworld operations in the country.