Mohamed Shiyam’s father retracts statement

by Rukshana Rizwie

Mohamed Zubari Huzamdeen, father of murdered businessman Mohammed Shiyam retracted a statement he made immediately after former DIG Vass Gunawardena, his son and four others were sentenced to death in connection with the murder.

He claimed that DIG Vaas Gunawardena had no connection with his son’s murder.

“I was not in the right frame of mind when I made those statements,” he told reporters. “I may have said it out of nervousness. I however stand by the Court’s decision.”

The father said that he was dismayed two others who were suspected to have links to the murder were not given a similar sentence.

On Friday, the Colombo High Court found the former DIG, Vaas Gunewrdena his son Ravindu and four others guilty of the murder by a three judge bench at a Trial-At-Bar for the abduction and murder of businessmen Mohammed Shiyam. Shiyam was abducted and subsequently found murdered in the Dompe area in May, 2013.