A 43-year-old Sri Lankan man wanted through Interpol for murder will be held in custody for up to 40 days, the Regional Court in Haskovo said. He has been in the special centre for temporary housing of foreigners in Lyubimets since 1 October.

The regional prosecutor's office in Haskovo asked for the order, and the court agreed. The Magistrate's Court in Matara issued a warrant on 9 August 2023 for his arrest so he can be extradited.

In the murder case, he is accused of aiding and inciting a shooting with an illegal firearm. The charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

He is also wanted in a separate 2022 case for illegally importing, trafficking and possessing heroin. Both acts are crimes in Bulgaria too. Police identified him by facial recognition.

The court found reasonable grounds to believe he took part in the crime, and a risk that he could flee or commit another offence. In its reasons, it said the charges point to an organised crime group with varied activities, which is a sign of a high danger to the public. The judges also noted that the man left his home country, came to Bulgaria, and has no documents or known ties to people or institutions here.

The court ordered the custody to make sure he appears at the main hearing on handing him over to the authorities in Sri Lanka, which is still to come. He can appeal to the Court of Appeal in Plovdiv within three days.

On 28 August, the court in Haskovo also ordered a 34-year-old Ukrainian man held for up to 40 days. Interpol wanted him for fraud and crimes linked to an organised crime group.