The Court of Appeal has ordered to dismiss a revision application filed by former Homagama District Judge Sunil Abeysinghe, seeking an order to enlarge him on bail.
On February 20, 2020, former Homagama District Judge was sentenced to 16 years Rigorous Imprisonment by the Colombo High Court for soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs.300,000 on May, 2013 from a person in the Hanwella area to deliver a favorable verdict in a case that was being heard before his court. The Court of Appeal two-Judge-Bench comprising Justice Menaka Wijesundera and Justice Neil Iddawala held that there are no exceptional circumstances existing in the current situation to consider the granting of bail pending appeal.
The prevailing situation of the country due to the COVID- 19 pandemic and the vulnerability of the petitioner to be a victim of the pandemic due to his old age had been mentioned as an exceptional circumstance in the revision application. The Bribery Commission had filed indictments against former District Judge for committing offences under Section 14(b) read with Section 25 (3) of the Bribery Act, for soliciting or accepting gratification to do an act in his capacity as a Judicial Officer.
The Bribery Commission had filed indictments against the accused based on a complaint made by a woman, a resident of Embulgama, Homagama.
President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris appeared for the accused-Appellant.
Senior State Counsel Wasantha Perera appeared for the Attorney General.
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