Wimal’s writ petition against BC set aside

MP Wimal Weerawansa’s writ against the notice issued by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) requiring him and his wife to prove how they had got their assets, was set aside yesterday by the Supreme Court without taking it up for hearing.

MP Weerawansa in his writ had requested that the notice issued by the Bribery Commission be revoked and pleaded for an interim order preventing indictments being filed on this matter in the High Court. The Supreme Court refused to issue notices on the commission and stated that the court had no legal basis to take up this motion for hearing. This petition was taken up for hearing by a bench consisting of Supreme Court judges Priyasad Dep, Upali Abeyrathne and K. T. Chithrasiri.

In the petition filed by MP Weerawansa he had named the OIC of the Bribery Commission, its President and the members as respondents.

When this matter was taken up for hearing, attorney Sanjeewa Jayawardene PC, who appeared for the petitioner, stated that already an affidavit had been provided to the commission by the petitioner detailing how he had earned these assets and therefore it was not necessary to respond to the notice issued by it.

Additional Solicitor General Sanjaya Rajaratnam, replying stated that the notice issued by the commission was an integral part of documents required when sending notices and if everyone continues to appeal to courts to revoke such notices it would definitely create a difficult situation for the courts. He also stated that there is no legal basis to take up such a petition.

The courts having considered the submissions of both parties decided to refuse issuing notices to the Bribery Commission and

set the case aside.