Impeached CJ before court today

16 September 2013 02:38 am - 24 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Controversially impeached Chief Justice 43, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake will appear before the Colombo Chief Magistrate today, creating history as the first Chief Justice to face a trial before a court of law.

Dr. Bandaranayake is to be served charges on three separate cases relating to non-declaration of assets during 2010, 2011 and 2012, at a time when she was holding the post of Chief Justice. The Bribery Commission has filed three cases with six charges against her, and all the cases relate to her alleged failure to declare her assets -- as every elected and public official is bound to do. The Bribery Commission has charged her before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court over the alleged non-declaration of assets in two accounts at the National Development Bank (NDB).

On July 29, the Colombo Magistrate issued notice on Dr. Bandaranayake to appear in Court on 16 September, in regard to a case filed by the Bribery Commission. She is facing charges of non declaration of assets in her annual declaration. Meanwhile, protesting against the Bribery Commission’s move to charge Dr. Bandaranayake, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the policy making body of country’s legal fraternity insisted that the Bribery Commission should file charges against Members of Parliament who had not declared their assets in keeping with the legal requirement.

When the magistrate issued notice on Dr. Bandaranayake on July 29, this year, the BASL complained that the move was a mockery of justice. The BASL also had charged that there were blatant similar violations by politicians and public officials in the government but that no action had been taken against them. The BASL criticised the Bribery Commission stating that it had filed cases relating to accounts which had only zero balances. (Susitha R Fernando)

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Comments - 24

No Hope Monday, 16 September 2013 06:12 AM

BECAUSE SHE WAS THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THIS COUNTRY.

Politicians could be thieves, thugs or any as you wish but justice and legislation are the most impotent to a country. If she is not a thief or clean why is she afraid???
If she's innocent and having clean hands all the common public will support her.

C.K.Lankaputhra Monday, 16 September 2013 01:06 PM

Pot calling kettle black. Mock justice.

Perumal Monday, 16 September 2013 12:57 PM

Which means they get elected, make money by foul means and then get temporarily voted out (only sometimes) to be voted back after some time (forgotten and forgiven).

Rubert Vanderkoon Monday, 16 September 2013 10:51 AM

Wouldn´t it be nice, if she did declare even zero balance? That would have set a precedence and made her that all clean premier public servant, but sadly nobody is whiter than white!

Rubert Vanderkoon Monday, 16 September 2013 10:48 AM

It depends, if she is found not-guilty, may be theyºll try him.

Rubert Vanderkoon Monday, 16 September 2013 10:29 AM

Former Savings bank chief (incidentally he is the ex-CJ's husband) and the large Ceylinco conglomerate boss are also on trial.

Rubert Vanderkoon Monday, 16 September 2013 10:27 AM

Politcians are known to be corrupt, but the public has the choice to replace them every five years.

Brumpy Aiya Monday, 16 September 2013 08:56 AM

Everybody was. (Note use of the past tense)

raviraj Monday, 16 September 2013 08:42 AM

Pibi, which audit firm do you work for. Can I hire you to file my tax returns

Shamith Roahn Monday, 16 September 2013 06:31 AM

There is no rule of law in SL. If there is a law, all corrupted politicians should be charged before the court. these are only personnel revenge attacks. All the commissions are kneeling before the politics.

Brumby Aiya Monday, 16 September 2013 06:25 AM

If that is correct, then BASL will be having "stakes" around their necks not black ties.

Ari Monday, 16 September 2013 06:18 AM

The position taken up by the BASL that the ex-CJ should not be charged just because public officials and Parliamentarians who committed similar offences have not been taken to courts does not obviously stand to reason and is totally irrational. The correct position is that all offenders should be dealt with according to the law. There should not be any exceptions.

CHANDRAPALA Monday, 16 September 2013 03:05 AM

There are so many politicians who did not declare there assets. Why is this injustice only for her? The investigation procedure over CJ 43 is questionable.

Ryan Monday, 16 September 2013 06:09 AM

BASL is not a trustworthy organisation anymore, you just have to spend some money, BASL is in your hands

nicky karunarathna Monday, 16 September 2013 05:34 AM

BASL is bringing a kindergarten type argument here argument sake. It is not the case of who or whom should declared or declare assets but who did not while she being CJ of the country where she/he should be example for not only for the judiciary but to the whole country where she/he deliver justice for all. She has to be paragon of all virtues. Is country's BASL has come to such low or lowest standard? Unbelievable!

tony Monday, 16 September 2013 05:20 AM

THIS IS VENGEANCE, WHY CHARGE ONLY HER WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PUBLIC SERVANTS AND POLITICIANS WHO HAVE NOT DECLARED THEIR ASSETS

Pibi Monday, 16 September 2013 04:42 AM

She is supposed to declare assets;not accounts. If the balances were ZERO those accounts have no assets. Should she still declare the ZERO accounts?

gandha azwer Monday, 16 September 2013 04:41 AM

What about her husbands NSB frauds. Will he go scot free.

MagodisThuma Monday, 16 September 2013 04:37 AM

Justice Vs Justice !

MagodisThuma Monday, 16 September 2013 04:30 AM

Everybody is equal before the law !.

kbob Monday, 16 September 2013 04:16 AM

Our country has set many "unprecedented records" in recent years, but not any that we should be proud to boast to the world about

Kiris Baba Amaray Monday, 16 September 2013 04:06 AM

Oh... Living God, I beg you to stand for the Justice and deal this case let not any evil get into the scene.

Fazel Monday, 16 September 2013 03:59 AM

Miracle of Asian. anything can happen in srilanka

amanath Monday, 16 September 2013 03:32 AM

Former CJ Facing trial, Former DIG facing trial,Former Bribery commissioner facing trail , who will be next???

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Impeached CJ before court today

Comments - 24

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