Colombo HC sentences a Nigerian national to death for drug possession

The Colombo High Court last week sentenced a Nigerian man to death for possession and trafficking of over 245 grams of cocaine.After a lengthy trial, Colombo High Court Judge Namal Balalle announced the verdict stating that the charges leveled by the prosecution against the accused have been proved beyond reasonable doubt.

On the 27th May 2016, the Police Narcotics Bureau had arrested the accused Nigerian with one kilogram and 744 grams of cocaine in Rajagiriya area of Colombo.

After analysis, the Government Analyst submitted a report to the court and informed that the net amount of cocaine contained in the seized stock was 245.19 grams.

The defendant made a statement before the court and stated that he did not commit this offence.The High Court judge, who noted that fact, then sentenced the accused to death.