Mohomad Anvar Mohomad Ziyam vs. The Officer-in-Charge, Colombo Crimes Division – CA BAL/370/2023-2024

In the case between Mohomad Anvar Mohomad Ziyam (petitioner/defendant) and The Officer-in-Charge, Colombo Crimes Division, with the Hon. Attorney General as respondents, the court addressed the legal issue of whether extraordinary grounds such as trial delays, denial of fair trial rights, and prolonged custody impacting family life justified the grant of bail under section 83(2) of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act No. 41 of 2022. It was held that the petitioner’s failure to disclose a prior conviction undermined the integrity of his bail application, leading to the refusal of bail. The decision reaffirmed the principle that full and truthful disclosure is mandatory in seeking discretionary relief such as bail. Reliance was placed on established statutory law and relev