The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the judgement given by the High Court Trial at Bar on Former President’s Chief of Staff (CoS) Kusumdasa Mahanama and State Timber Corporation Chairman Piyadasa Dissanayake and confirmed their sentences over the charges of accepting bribe of Rs 20 million from an Indian businessman.
The former President’s Chief of Staff Mahanama who was convicted by the High Court Trial-at-Bar sentenced him to 20 years Rigorous Imprisonment with a fine of Rs.65,000 and a penalty of Rs.20 million.
Former State Timber Corporation Chairman Piyadasa Dissanayake was sentenced to 12 Rigorous Imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of Rs.50,000.
A five-member Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice Vijith Malalgoda, Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya, Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justice S. Thurairajah and Justice Yasantha Kodagoda delivered the judgement unanimously rejecting two appeal petitions submitted by the convicts seeking an order to invalidate the judgment delivered by the High Court Trial-at-Bar.
Taking bribes while working in the highest positions in the public service is absolutely unacceptable and these petitions were dismissed stating that the High Court has given a very correct decision in accordance with the law.
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