SC stays MC bribery proceedings against Mohan Peiris and Nawaz

By S. S. Selvanayagam

Supreme Court yesterday (26 February) issued an Interim Order until the final determination staying the proceedings in the Colombo against former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris and the incumbent superior Court Justice A. H. M. D. Nawaz filed by the Bribery Commission.

The Bench comprising Justices Eva Wanasundera, Nalin Perera and Prasanna S. Jayawardena issued the Interim Order pursuant to the Writ Petition filed by former Chief Justice seeking to quash the decision of the Bribery Commission to institute proceedings against them in the Magistrate’s Court of Colombo and/or to continue with the proceedings.

Court directed the parties to file objection and counter objection and fixed the matter for hearing on 19 July.

Petitioner Mohan  Peiris cited Justice Nawaz, Bribery Commission Chairman Justice T. B. Weerasuriya, Members of the Bribery Commission Justice W. L. R. Silva and Neville Guruge, Director General of the Bribery Commission Sarath Jayamanne, Attorney General, Attorney General and Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Bandara as Respondents.

Gamini Marapane PC with Nigel Hatch PC, Dr Harsha Cabraal PC, Palitha Kumarasinghe PC and Navin Marapana Attorney-at-Law and Nishan Premathiratne, Attorney-at-Law on the instructions of Attorney-at-Law Indunil Bandara appeared for the Petitioner Mohan Peiris.  K.Kanag Iswaran PC appeared for Justice Nawaz.  Romesh de Silva PC with Sugath Caldera and Manjula Fernandopulle and Niran Anketell appeared for the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. J. C. Weliamuna PC appeared for the Bribery Commission. Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam appeared for the Attorney General.