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Alleged
land fraud: Discrepancy in questioned document signatures In a multi media presentation Prof. P. Chandra Sekaran, was giving evidence before Judge Rohini Perera in the case where former Bar Association Secretary Bandula Wijesingha, former Military Spokesman Sumedha Perera and the former caretaker Sarath Wijewardena were indicted on six counts including that of claiming a well known philanthropist's land and ancestral home by the use of forged documents. While the first accused Bandula Wijesingha is charged with fraudulently certifying a forged document and for preparing forged deeds for a land situated at Rajagiriya and belonging to Fredrick Obeysekera, the others are charged with aiding and abetting. Having examined more than 50 original signatures of the late Mr. Obeysekera which had been placed on cheques and bank documents between the period March 1987 and May 2001, Prof. Sekaran - giving evidence for the first time before a Sri Lankan court - observed that changes were evident regarding the alignment of the signatures appearing on documents in the alleged fraudulent land deal. Prof. Sekaran said he had also on several occasions examined signatures of persons suffering from Parkinson's disease. Prof. Sekaran in his evidence said he had photographed the signatures with a digital camera and analysed the accuracy of the signatures in the original documents and later compared them with those on the questioned documents. An Asha Central Hospital nurse Amanthi Perera who was in charge of Mr. Obeysekera's room from June 4 to June 11, 2001 giving evidence in cross examination said she could not recall anyone obtaining signatures from Mr. Obeysekera while he was in hospital. But she said she remembers seeing the second accused Sumedha Perera visiting the patient. Senior State Counsel S. Thurairajah appeared for the prosecution. |
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