August 05, Colombo (LNW): A new set of criminal charges has been brought before the Colombo High Court against five individuals, including a widely known underworld suspect, over an alleged plan to flee custody while being held by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The indictment, filed by the Attorney General, accuses the group of conspiring to orchestrate the escape while under state detention.
Among the accused is Nandun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, more commonly known by his alias Harak Kata, who has long been linked to organised criminal activity.
Also named in the indictment are Ravindu Sandeepa Gunasekara, a former police constable attached to the CID, along with Dinesh Tharanga, Ruwan Chamara—also known as Midigama Ruwan—and Sanjeewa Abeysinghe.
The case was taken up before High Court Judge Sujeewa Nishshanka, during which the charges were formally read in open court. The judge ordered that all five defendants have their fingerprints officially recorded as part of the ongoing proceedings. The matter has been fixed for further hearing on September 24.
This is not the first time Harak Kata has faced prosecution. He had previously been indicted alongside two other individuals in a separate case. However, State Counsel Sajith Bandara, appearing on behalf of the prosecution, requested that the earlier indictment be withdrawn due to pending appeals lodged by the accused at the Court of Appeal.
Judge Nishshanka noted that any further action on the previous case would be contingent on the withdrawal of those appeals. Legal counsel representing the defendants informed the court that they intend to file a motion to formally discontinue the appeals in question.
