Massive heroin case suspects freed, judges blame police

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Five suspects arrested and remanded in custody for possession of 196.98 kilos of heroin off Trincomalee in April 2019 have been released.

Suspects arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy while transporting narcotics in international maritime waters have been released by the Western Province High Court.

Resuming to hear the case yesterday, the three-judge bench delivered their verdict, saying the charges against the defendant were unproven.

The judges further said they could not accept the statement provided by the Chief Inspector of the Police Narcotics Bureau in this case.

Highlighting concerns over the way investigations were carried out into the case, the judges said it was clear that the investigations had not been carried out properly and that the statements provided by the police were contradictory.

The bench of three judges therefore acquitted the suspects in the case by stating that the charges had not been proven by the plaintiffs. (NewsWire)

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