Accused discharged in misappropriation case

W.C.B. Fernando Puttalam Group Corr.

Puttalam High Court Judge L.T.B. Dehideniya said the presentation had failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt and discharged all three accused in a misappropriation case.

The three accused discharged were former Puttalam District Judge and Magistrate Sarath Siriwardena, former Court Registrar Yakdehige Dayaratne and record keeper Jayantha Chandraratne.

The Attorney General had indicted them under Section 392 of the Penal Code for misappropriation of a stock of teak timber valued at Rs. 200,000 which were Court production on or around November 30, 1999.

After recording evidence given by 22 witnesses High Court Judge L.T.B. Dehideniya discharged all three accused saying the prosecution had failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

State Counsel Kashyapa Wickramasekera with State Counsel Kumaran prosecuted. Attorneys Ransiri Fernando, Indika Tennakoon and Samanthi Fernando appeared for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd accused respectively.