Sajin Vass Gunawardena discharged from corruption charges

By T. Farook Thajudeen

Colombo High Court last week discharged former Parliamentarian and Minister Sajin Vass Gunawardena from a lawsuit filed against him by the Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption for committing corrupting to the tune of Rs. 883 million during his tenure as Mihin Lanka CEO.

It was alleged that Gunawardena entered into an illegal contract with a Singaporean company while purchasing ground handling equipment.

At the outset of the investigation before Colombo High Court Counsel Shavendra Fernando PC defending Gunawardena took up a preliminary objection contending that a suspect once acquitted from a case cannot be charged for the same offence in another court of law.

The Counsel took up the position that the accused was once acquitted by the Magistrate Court Colombo had been once again indicted before the High Court erroneously, which is contrary to the law as there is no provision in law to frame charges against Gunawardena on the same charges.

The Counsel said the Plaint was bad in law. High Court Judge Damith Totawatte maintained the defence position and discharged Gunawardena from the case.