Court acquits PHI of bribery charges

The Colombo High Court acquitted a Public Health Inspector attached to the Anuradhapura Hospital of charges of soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs. 2,000 from a canteen keeper in the hospital.

The complainant Maddekanda Sanath Bandula in his complaint and in his subsequent testimony before Court alleged that the accused took a tipi-tip packet, a tin of snacks, a packet of Biscuits and a yogurt, for allegedly violating regulations promulgated under the Food Act and solicited Rs. 5,000 on September 9, 2014, to refrain from filing action against him.

The complainant complained to the Bribery Commission and on September 14 it arranged a trap and during the raid the accused Rohitha Pushpakumara Ratnayake accepted a bribe of Rs. 2,000 in the presence of the decoy, Police Sergeant Saman who posed as a patient waiting for treatment and was arrested by Chief Inspector Wasantha who conducted the raid.

According to the testimony of the complainant Sanath Bandula, the accused accepted Rs. 2,000, crushed the currency notes and kept it under a book and thereafter he was arrested by Chief Inspector Wasantha.

However, the Court held that the evidence given by the decoy contradicted the complainant’s evidence and it had not been clearly established whether the complainant kept the money on the accused’s table on his own volition or the accused accepted

It had not been clearly established whether the complainant kept the money on the accused’s table on his own volition or the accused accepted the gratification and accordingly, the prosecution had failed to adduce the evidence to prove the charges preferred against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

the gratification and accordingly, the prosecution had failed to adduce the evidence to prove the charges preferred against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

Accordingly, the Colombo High Court acquitted the accused of all charges.

Rienzie Arseculeratne President’s Counsel with Thejitha Koralage, Namal Karunaratne, Nimeshika Patabendige, Shasheen Arseculeratne Kannangara, Udara Muhandiramge Attorneys-at-Law appeared for the defence.

Deputy Director General of the Bribery Commission, Sunethra Jayasinghe, appeared for the prosecution.