A Sri Lankan man identified as Prasanna Nallalingam, believed to be the leader of the outlaw motorcycle gang AVA, is facing extradition to France on charges of murder and attempted murder, Canadian media reported.
Nallalingam was arrested in Toronto, Canada, earlier this year after being on the run from both Sri Lankan and French authorities.
French authorities allege that Nallalingam, who also uses the alias Ajanthan Subramaniyam, orchestrated and participated in a violent attack in September 2022 in La Courneuve, a suburb of Paris.
The attack, reportedly targeting rival gang members from a group called LC Boys, left one man, Abiraman Balakirishnan, dead and another seriously injured.
Court documents claim that Nallalingam planned and led the attack, where assailants armed with machetes and knives ambushed the victims.
At the time of the incident, Nallalingam was already wanted in Sri Lanka for the 2021 murder of Sivakumaran Jeewarathna.
He had fled the country, prompting Interpol to issue an international arrest warrant. Nallalingam also had a history of convictions in France, including a 2021 three-year prison sentence for his role in an organized raid on a Paris restaurant.
Nallalingam entered Canada illegally in December 2022, reportedly using a fake identity at a border crossing in Quebec.
He remained in Canada for over a year, awaiting a refugee admissibility hearing. Authorities arrested him in May 2024 after he failed to appear at the hearing. His fingerprints matched records on file with Interpol, leading to his identification.
French authorities have formally requested his extradition, citing the severity of the charges, including involvement in organized gang activities and prior criminal history. Nallalingam is currently in custody in Canada, with his extradition hearing scheduled for May 2025. (Newswire/TorontoStar)
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