Case against former CM S.M. Ranjith: Defence raise preliminary objections!!

The Colombo High Court today fixed for February 28 to deliver its order regarding the preliminary objections raised by two accused including former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon in connection with a corruption case filed by Bribery Commission.

 The Bribery Commission had filed indictments before Colombo High Court against former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon and Shanthi Chandrasena, the spouse of Minister S.M. Chandrasena for allegedly causing an unlawful loss to the government when obtaining fuel allowance between September 27, 2012, and December 31, 2014.

 

S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon is a brother of Minister of Lands S.M. Chandrasena.

 

Senior Counsel Darshana Kuruppu appearing for accused informed the court that the indictments have been filed against accused after taking a period of more than two years, contrary to the section 165 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

 

The Director-General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed indictments against S.M. Ranjith and his then private secretary Shanthi Chandrasena under section 70 of the Bribery Act on eight charges.

 

The Bribery Commission alleged that first accused S.M. Ranjith while serving as the North Central Province Chief  Minister had made arrangements to allocate a sum of Rs.2.68 million to the official vehicle of his private secretary Shanthi Chandrasena despite her fuel allowance had been added to her salary.

 

The indictments had been filed under five counts under section 70 of the Bribery Act and sections 113 and 102 of the Penal Code. 

 

Assistant Director-General of the Bribery Commission Asitha Anthony appeared for the prosecution.

 

Senior Counsel Sisira Rathnayaka with senior counsel Darshana Kuruppu, Mangala Ranaraja, Nilantha Wijesinghe, Buddhika Thilakarathna, Dineru Bandara appeared for the accused. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)

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