Appeal Court affirms Polonnaruwa HC’s rigorous life sentence for firearm possession

The Court of Appeal recently affirmed a rigorous life sentence given by the Polonnaruwa High Court over an accused who was convicted for possessing a T-56 Firearm and 30 live bullets. Following a lengthy trial, accused Sujjith Thushara Jayasinghe was found guilty for charges and following the conviction Polonnaruwa High Court sentenced him to rigorous life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.15,000.

Then, the accused filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal challenging the judgment of the Polonnaruwa High Court.

The Court of Appeal bench comprising Justices Priyantha Fernando and Wikum Kaluarachchi upheld the judgment given by the Polonnaruwa High Court stating that the case filed against the accused by the Attorney General has been proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution.

According to the prosecution in the case filed before the Polonnaruwa High Court, Hingurakgoda Chief Inspector of Police had received a tip-off about a group of armed persons preparing for a robbery. Following the tip-off he arranged a raid and a group of Police Officers were deployed for “Marasinghe Estate” on Medirigiriya road.

The Police officers searched a lorry which the accused was seated in the front left with a dark blue colored bag. When the bag was opened, they were able to find a T-56 firearm and a magazine with 30 bullets.

The accused was indicted in the Polonnaruwa High Court under two counts for possessing a T-56 firearm under Section 22(3) read with Section 22(1) of the FireArms Ordinance No.33 of 1916 as amended by Act No.22 of 1996 and on the second count on possessing of 30 bullets under Section 27(1)(a)read with Section 9(2) of Explosives Act No.21 of 1956 as amended by Amendment Acts No.33 of 1969 and No.18 of 2005.

State Counsel Dharshana Kuruppu with Sajini Elvitigala appeared for the Accused and Deputy Solicitor General Sudharshana De Silva appeared for the Respondent.