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Damage to property: PS member out on bail after surrendering to court
View(s):Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha member, Neelakanthi Samarawickrama will face charges of causing damage to the property of a private contractor. The local council member who surrendered, was produced before the Magistrate’s Courts on Tuesday over charges of trespass and damaging property worth Rs. 300,000 in Makumbura, Kottawa, and was released on bail of Rs 25,000 and personal bail of Rs 100,000.
The contractor
“I have been doing contracts for Maga Naguma for the past few years. Last Monday, Mrs Samarawickrama came to my office asking for the return of a contract agreement on which we have already completed work recently,” shop owner Upul Nishantha said.
“I didn’t know why she wanted it back. When I refused to handover the contract agreement, she went out of my office room and assaulted my wife seated outside. She may have thought the documents were with her,” he added. “She slapped my face and started beating me. When my husband came to my rescue, I ran off and called 119 immediately,” the contractor’s wife said.
“She damaged the front glass of the showroom and three cars, throwing paving stones at them,” she said. However, Ms Samarawickrama said the incident was over a ‘personal issue’ and not with regard to a contract agreement.
“First, I did not admit my actions because I prefered not to give publicity to personal matters. But when the shop owner came up with different stories, I surrendered to courts and told the truth,” she added.The case will be taken up on January 28, 2014.
His wife
The contractor’s wife points to some of the damage caused. Pix by Susantha Liyanawatte