Ambalangoda ex-PS Chairman, his sister get six months’ RI for criminal intimidation of journalist | Page 2 | Daily News

Ambalangoda ex-PS Chairman, his sister get six months’ RI for criminal intimidation of journalist

Former Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Keebiyage Puspalal Kumarasinghe and his sister Keembiyage Lisee Keerthisinghe were sentenced to six months’ rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 1,050 each by Galle Additional Magistrate Asanga Hettiwatte after being found guilty of a number of charges including persecution and criminal intimidation of a media personnel.

Galle Hikkaduwa Police prosecuted Keembiyage Puspalal Kumarasinghe, Waduthanthirige Amila Prasanna and Keembiyage Lisee Keerthisinghe on four charges of being a member of an unlawful assembly, illegal obstruction and persecution, criminal intimidation and threatening Gonapinuwala Withanage Janath de Silva of Ethkandura, Divitura in Elpitiya, Galle who serves at Independent Television Network (ITN) as a provincial media personnel.

The Additional Magistrate acquitted and released the second respondent from all charges while the first and third respondents were fined Rs. 50 with one month’s simple imprisonment each in respect of the second count while both were further fined Rs. 1,000 together with six months’ rigorous imprisonment each with regard to the third and fourth charges.

The police filed legal action against the respondents over an incident of criminal intimidation of the ITN media personnel on July 12, 2015 at the gate of Rathmehera Estate at Gonapinuwala in Hikkaduwa.

In his evidence, the plaintiff stated before the Magistrate that while he was riding his motorcycle along Galle - Aluthwala Highway on the day of the incident, the first respondent chased him and stopped him forcibly, accused and threatened him.

Thereafter, he had called over the phone to someone after which another group arrived at the spot. However, as the third respondent attempted to attack him, the first respondent resisted the action, the plaintiff told Court.

The first respondent, who denied allegations of the litigant, said in Court that he was the Chairman of the Ambalangoda Pradeshiya Sabha at that time and the plaintiff published several news reports against him on personal resentments. He also said the plaintiff contested the Pradeshiya Sabha election on several occasions but he was unsuccessful at all times.

Subsequent to the pronouncement of the Magistrate’s order, the lawyer for the respondents told the Additional Magistrate's Court that they would submit an appeal application against the order.

Consequently, the Additional Magistrate released the respondents on a cash bail of Rs. 15,000 and a surety of Rs. 100,000 for each and ordered them to be present at the High Court when they are summoned in respect of the appeal.

Srimal Wijesekara appeared for the respondent while Sergeant Kapila Abeyrathne of Hikkaduwa Police prosecuted.


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