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Ali Roshan jailed for 15 years, fined Rs. 20.6 mn over elephant trafficking
By Bhagya Silva
Colombo, Sept. 19 (Daily Mirror) - A three-judge bench of the High Court today sentenced Niraj Roshan, alias 'Ali Roshan' to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 20.6 million, after finding him guilty of unlawfully keeping five elephants without valid permits.
The accused was convicted on charges of fraudulently altering the elephant registry maintained by the Department of Wildlife Conservation and illegally keeping five elephants in his possession.
The High Court acquitted and released three other accused, namely Uchitha Nishantha Dammika, Palihepitiya Gamage Jayalath and Paskuwel Fonseka Priyanga Sanjeewani, who had been indicted in connection with the same incident.
According to the prosecution, between July 2009 and August 2015, in the areas of Maharagama, Arawwala, Nawala, Battaramulla and Oruwala, the accused, together with unidentified individuals, had allegedly conspired to traffic elephants, committed offences of elephant trafficking and unlawfully kept elephants in their possession, knowing that the animals had been stolen.
The Attorney General had filed 33 indictments against the accused under the Code of Criminal Procedure Act and the Public Property Act.
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