Hit-and-run case: Driver of Defender released on bail

Navindu Umesh Ratnayake, the driver of the Defender involved in the accident which caused the death of Borella Traffic OIC has been released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Shalani Perera has ordered to impose two personal bonds of Rs 500,000 on the suspect as bail conditions.

The police informed the court that the Attorney General has given instructions to file a case against the suspects of the case at the Colombo High Court for violating Section 298 of the Penal Code.

The Additional Magistrate has accordingly ordered to take up the case again on April 22nd and ordered the suspects to appear before the court on the said date.

Traffic OIC of the Borella Police, IP Sarathchandra, 51, had been en route to the Kollupitiya Police Station, when he had met with an accident when the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a speeding Defender in Bambalapitiya, at around 4.35 am on February 24.

The OIC was critically injured in the accident and was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on March 09.

The Defender involved in the crash had fled the scene and was later found by police in Pelawatte, Battaramulla.

Eight persons including the driver of the vehicle and a female were arrested by the Bambalapitiya police in connection with the hit-and-run case.

Seven of the suspects were granted bail by the court while the driver was remanded.