Former DIG Vass Gunawardena, his son Ravindu Gunawardena and four others, who were found guilty of murdering businessman Mohammed Siyam, filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging their death sentences. 

The Attorney General has been named as a respondent in the appeal, which seeks the release of all 6 suspects from the charges. 

The six suspects were sentenced to death on November 27 after being found guilty for the abduction and murder of the businessman by the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar.

Shyamali P. Perera, the wife of Vass Gunawardena, had later said she would file an appeal since she cannot accept the High Court verdict.

The Bambalapitiya-based businessman was abducted and murdered in the Dompe area on May 22.

Following investigations conducted into the incident, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on June 06 arrested Sub-Inspector Lakmini Bamunusinghe, attached to the office of the DIG Western Province (North), along with three Police Constables (PCs) serving in the DIG’s special unit.
 
Upon interrogating the arrested police officers, the CID uncovered information regarding the former DIG’s alleged involvement in the businessman’s murder and recorded a statement from Vaas Gunawardena on the same day. 

He was arrested by the CID on June 10 and remanded by the Colombo Additional Magistrate. He was interdicted by the police on June 18