Court over rules Ratwatte’s plea to dismiss case

5 September 2011 10:18 am

The Colombo High Court today overruled the plea of the defence to dismiss the  bribery case  against former Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte  without calling for defence  witnesses  as  a  strong case against Mr. Ratwatte is noticed from the indictment filed by the Attorney General against  Mr. Ratwatte. The case was filed for his failure  to  declare  to the Bribery Commission the mode of earnings of his assets amounting to Rs.33 million  in cash and immovable property worth of Rs.1.25 million.

High Court Judge Sunil Rajapakse delivering his order on the defence plea to dismiss the case, observed that a strong case had been established by the prosecution and fixed the hearing for September 21 overruling the plea.

The judge informed Mr. Ratwatte that on the next date of the case to inform court whether he will lead evidence of his witness or make a dock statement or give evidence from the witness box.

Earlier President Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne appearing on behalf of Anurudddha Ratwatte filed his written submissions to show how his client had earned his assets.

Mr. Ratwatte was indicted by the Attorney General before the High Court for failing to show how he earned his assets during the period March 31, 1997 to August 31, 2002  amounting to Rs.33 million in cash and immovable assets for Rs.1.25 million to the Commission to investigate into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. (By T. Farook Thajudeen)