Chilaw HC jails lawyer and manager for 16 years over forged land deeds

The Chilaw High Court Judge Nayomi Wickramasekara yesterday sentenced a lawyer and another accused, who had functioned as the manager of the landowner to 16 years’ rigorous imprisonment each after finding them guilty on three charges, including the fraudulent preparation of deeds and the sale of 30 perches of land belonging to another party.   

In addition, the Judge imposed a fine of Rs. 180,000 each on the two accused and further directed them to pay compensation of Rs. 800,000 each to the aggrieved party. The Court also ordered that, in default of payment of the compensation, each accused would undergo an additional term of imprisonment.  

The prosecution stated that Attorney-at-Law Alex Nishantha Fernando of Waikkal and the first accused, Ranpati Devage Saman Kumara of Mahawawa, had jointly prepared forged deeds and sold the land belonging to W. John Sarath Kumara Tissera of Thambarawila, Waikkal.  

Investigations conducted by the External Investigations Division of the Criminal Investigation Department revealed that forged deeds had been prepared and used to sell 26 land lots, exceeding three acres in extent.  

The Attorney General had filed 26 indictments before the High Court against the two accused. Following the Court’s finding that the accused were guilty, Senior State Counsel Oswald Lakshman Perera, appearing for the Attorney General, addressing Court, stated:  

“Your Ladyship, the accused Attorney-at-Law has committed an act that brings grave disrepute to the honourable legal profession. It is due to the immense trust placed in lawyers that people entrust their valuable property deeds to them. Therefore, we respectfully request that stern punishment be imposed on those who damage such a profession.”  

The Court ordered that the said prison terms be served within a period of 10 years.