Grama Niladari acquitted from forgery charges

The Colombo High Court yesterday acquitted the former Grama Niladari for Werahera North from the charge of illegally possessing rubber stamps and letter heads of public officers as the prosecution had not proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratna acquitted the accused who was arrested on April 26, 2018 allegedly for retaining 26 forged franks and letter heads of public officials like police OICS, school principals and Provincial Secretaries. However during the trial it transpired that the accused only possessed four rubber stamps and that the rubber stamp of a doctor had given to him to be used for documents pertaining to social work carried out by the doctor.

Counsel Upul Dharshana Mudalige who appeared for the defence contended that the Mount Lavinia Police Terrorist Investigation Division had arrested the accused on a previous animosity and that they had fabricated evidence in order to get even.