Gowers Corp Case: Namal acquitted

Friday, 3 November 2023 00:32 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Court deems evidence provided by prosecution witnesses as unreliable
Says court’s focus is solely on evidence and not status of defendants
Issues order to lift foreign travel ban on second and fourth defendants
Instructs Police to recall open warrants issued for arrest of second defendant

SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa

The Colombo High Court acquitted five defendants, including Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday without calling for evidence in relation to the Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Ltd money laundering case.

The order exonerating Rajapaksa and others was delivered by High Court judge Navaratne Marasinghe. Delivering the order, the judge noted that the evidence provided by the prosecution witnesses was deemed unreliable. He said the court›s focus is solely on the evidence necessary to establish the charges against the defendants, rather than their status or other factors. Furthermore, the judge issued a directive to immediately lift the foreign travel ban imposed on Indika Prabath Karunajeewa, the second defendant in the case, currently evading legal proceedings, as well as the travel ban on the fourth defendant.

Additionally, he instructed the recall of the open warrants issued for the arrest of Karunajeewa.

The case was brought against Namal Rajapaksa along with Directors Indika Prabath Karunajeewa, Sujani Bogollagama, Iresha Silva, Nithya Senani Samaranayake, and Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Ltd for purportedly violating the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by injecting Rs. 30 million into Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Ltd, funds allegedly obtained through illicit means during Rajapaksa’s tenure as a Member of Parliament.

Investigations were initiated in response to a complaint filed by Voice Against Corruption Convener, Wasantha Samarasinghe. The complainant alleged that Namal Rajapaksa had purchased shares in a company named Hello Corp and established a company by the name, Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Ltd, while serving as a Member of Parliament, using Rs. 125 million purportedly obtained through illicit means.