A former senior Sri Lankan police officer and his son were sentenced to death by the high court here today for murdering a businessman in 2012.
Former DIG Deputy Inspector General 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.
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 deputy inspector general.
It was alleged that he had taken money to intervene in a transaction between the deceased Shiyam and other. Gunawardena was known for his work to combat underworld operations in the country.
According to a Colombo Post report, four others were also found guilty by the court.
