SRI LANKA: DRUG LORD SENTENCED TO DEATH

“drug kingpin” Mohammed Samoon Mohammed Shiyam, convicted for possessing nine kgs of pure heroin, was sentenced to death by Colombo High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne. Shiyam was taken into custody by the Police Narcotics Bureau with bags of heroin weighing 23 kgs at his residence at Ward Place on November 28, 2003. Colombo High Court sentenced Jayagodage Upali Abeygunawardena to death while Shiyams's wife Murshida Shiyam was sentenced to life imprisonment on December 14. They were indicted along with Shiyam with six counts including possession of nine kgs of heroin and aiding and abetting for trading. The judgement was delivered on December 14.