Singer Amal, Nadeemal and 16 suspects to be produced before courts on 27 Feb

• Amal refutes links with former DIG Nalaka Silva 
  
   

Singer Amal Silva and 17 others in Bur Dubai custody with the notorious underworld criminal and drug dealer Makandure Madush are to be produced before the Dubai Court on 27 February, according to his lawyer Udul Premaratne.

Premaratne also said that Amal has refuted any links with the former TID DIG Nalaka Silva who is now in the Welikada Remand Prison over an alleged assassination plot on President Maithripala Sirisena and some other VVIPs.

Attorney-at-law Udul Premaratne, who had visited Bur Dubai Police Station yesterday morning to meet Amal and his son Nadeemal, said that Amal had told him that he didn’t have any connection with former DIG Silva and he only met him once with one of his friends.

“Amal told me that he met former DIG Silva three to four years back for a friend’s requirement and has no connections with him after that,” Premaratne told the Daily FT.

After Amal was arrested alone with Madush, the CID informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate of its investigation to find any links between Madush, former DIG Silva and Amal in the assassination plot. The CID had informed the Magistrate that Amal had met former DIG Silva on 21 July 2016. Premaratne said that according to Amal, he, his son and 16 others who were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) of the Dubai Police would be produced before the Dubai Court on 27 February.

Most-wanted underworld criminal Madush and 30 suspects including the underworld criminals Keselwatte Dinuka, Kachcipani Imran and Sunshine Sudda of Mirissa and three artistes - singer Amal Perera, his son Nadimal and actor Ryan Van Rooyen - were arrested by the CIU of the Dubai Police at the lavish birthday party held by Madush for his six-year-old son at the Al Marina Resort and Spa in Dubai on 5 February. Premaratne said that according to Amal, he, his son and 15 others who were on visitor visas in Dubai would be released or deported after they were produced before the Dubai Court on 27 February.   “He told me that they came to sing at the party and had taken an advance to perform before flying to Dubai. Amal said that the Police arrested him when he was singing and Nadeemal was playing the guitar,” Premaratne said.

Amal had informed Premaratne that the CIU of the Dubai Police had carried out the raid at the party while it was carrying out another raid at the hotel.

Premaratne said although all drug offenses were categorised as serious criminal offenses under Dubai law and the suspects could be held in custody for months without producing before courts, Amal and Nadeemal expected to get release orders or deportation orders proving that they only took part in the party as artists.

Attorney-at-law Premaratne also said that some interested parties had alleged that he was evading the Mirihana Police over a stolen diamond worth Rs. 7 million but Amal had denied the allegation.

“Amal told me that he has to make a special statement over their arrest in Dubai and also expect to take legal action against those who spread rumours and sling mud on him after the incident,” Premaratne said.

He said that he didn’t meet actor Ryan Van Rooyen and did not know anything about him.