Customs Director acquitted after lengthy bribery trial | Daily News

Customs Director acquitted after lengthy bribery trial

Witnesses to face trial for making false allegations

Former Customs Prevention Division Director Ranjan Kanagasabai was yesterday ordered to be acquitted and released from a bribery case by the Colombo High Court.

The Bribery Commission had filed a case against him for allegedly soliciting and accepting a bribe of one million rupees to issue a clearance report pertaining to the goods imported by a vehicle importing private company.

Taking into consideration the evidence that transpired during a lengthy trial, High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige observed that the prosecution had failed to prove charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubts.

Delivering the judgement, the High Court Judge Patabendige maintained that there was no sufficient evidence to prove the charges against the accused and there was a discrepancy in the evidence presented by the prosecution witness against the accused. The High Court Judge further said that it appeared that the prosecution witnesses had given evidence in order to implicate the accused in the allegations and the first three prosecution witnesses in the case have given false evidence before the court.

The High Court Judge ordered to acquit and release the accused from the case.

President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne appearing for the accused filed an application before the court seeking to issue appropriate orders and prosecute the three witnesses in the case for making false allegations against the accused under the Section 14 and 21 of the Bribery Act.Considering the facts, the High Court Judge fixed for February 10 to announce his order regarding the request to prosecute three witnesses for giving false evidence.

The Bribery Commission had filed indictment against Ranjan Kanagasabai on eight counts of soliciting a bribe of Rs.5 mn and accepted an advance of Rs.1 mn on January 3, 2013 to obtain a final report on the release of imported goods from a private company which is engage in importing vehicles.

President’s Counsel Ranjan De Silva, Attorneys Chinthaka Fernando and Shan Godakumbura appeared for the defence.