Corruption case against Wimal Weerawansa: Order on preliminary objections fixed for Feb. 28

The Colombo High Court today fixed for February 28 to deliver its order regarding the preliminary objections raised by Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa challenging the maintainability of the corruption case filed against him by the Bribery Commission.

The Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed indictments against Wimal Weerawansa for the alleged unlawful acquisition of money and assets, estimated at Rs.75 million within a period of six years while serving as a Minister between 2009 and 2015. The Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption alleged that the former Minister had committed this offence by way of undeclared assets between January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2014.

Defence alleged that charges filed against Wimal Weerawansa under Bribery Act cannot be maintained since he is not a public officer but a public representative.

Both defence and prosecution filed their written submissions regarding the preliminary objections and High Court Judge Nawaratne Marasinghe announced that the order regarding the preliminary objections will be announced on February 28.

The indictments were filed against former Minister under 39 incidents based on monitory and property transactions estimated at Rs.75 million.

The Bribery Commission's  Director General alleged that the former Minister had unlawfully made 26 monitory transactions, constructed a house and purchased lands and vehicles in contravention of section 23(a) of the Bribery Act.

The Bribery Commission's Director General further alleged that Weerawansa had owned these properties-deemed under the provision of the Act to be property acquired through bribery.