31 March 2021 12:00 am
By Yoshitha Perera
The Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court yesterday acquitted former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris and two others from a Bribery case filed against them for allegedly preparing an erroneous report to gain undue benefits.
When the case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddika Sri Ragala on February 17 the Bribery Commission informed that it had taken steps to withdraw the above case filed against former Chief Justice Peiris and others due to a technical error. Accordingly, President’s Counsel Shavendra Fernando who appeared for the defence requested the Magistrate to acquit his clients from the case.
The case was filed by the Bribery Commission during the previous 'Yahapalana' government against former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Supreme Court Judge A.H.M.D. Nawaz and former Secretary to Ministry of Power and Energy M.M. Charles Ferdinando for committing an offence under the Bribery Act.
According to the complaint the officials had failed to provide proper instructions to take legal action against alleged irregularities in the purchase of a land by the Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited (LECO) between December 1 and 10, 2010.