Bribery case Former Prevention Director of SL Customs acquitted

• The Judge ruled that the eight charges made by the plaintiff against the accused had not been proved beyond a reasonable doubt   

By Yoshitha Perera   

The Colombo High Court yesterday acquitted former Prevention Director of the Sri Lanka Customs Kanakasabai Ranjan from the case against accepting a bribe of Rs. 1 million.  

Delivering the verdict, Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige said that there was a discrepancy in the evidence presented by the prosecution against the accused.  

The Judge further said that it appeared that the prosecution’s witnesses had given evidence in order to implicate the accused in the allegations.  

Considering all the presented facts, the Judge ruled that the eight charges made by the plaintiff against the accused had not been proved beyond a reasonable doubt.   

Accordingly, the Judge ordered the accused Kanakasabai Ranjan to be acquitted and released from the case.  
The Bribery Commission has filed eight indictments against the accused for allegedly soliciting Rs. 1 million bribe from Harsha Prabath, the owner of Vehicle Lanka (Pvt) Limited in the period between December 01 and 31, 2012. 

• There was a discrepancy in the evidence presented by the prosecution against the accused