No attempts were made to get down a key witness in the case in which Deputy Minister Abdul Cader was charged for misappropriation of State property and producing fraudulent documents, before he was acquitted on Monday.
One of the key witnesses in the case, Ms. Kumari Navaratne, a former Secretary to the Ministry of Samurdhi who is currently reported to be living in the United States was not summoned or directed to produce original documents relating to the case before the acquittal.
Mr. Cader, MP from the Kandy District was charged for a misappropriation of Rs. one million by fraudulently claiming that a stock of 690 bags of samba rice was distributed among Samurdhi beneficiaries at mosques during the Ramazan period, while Mr. Mohammed Fahim was charged for aiding and abetting Mr Cader. He was alleged to have submitted the false documents to obtain money from the Samurdhi Social Development Trust Fund. A detailed investigation regarding the fraud was done by the Presidential Investigation Unit before Mr. Cader, an Opposition UNP MP decided to cross-over to the Government.
Mr. Cader was facing the possibility of being fined Rs. three million and imposed a jail term ranging from one year to 20 years for misappropriation of State property and nother term of seven years for submitting forged documents.
The State took up the position that it could not proceed with the case as the original documents were not available.
Mr. Cader was appointed Deputy Minister of Environment by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week. The case was taken up before High Court Judge Kumudini Wickremesinghe.
Senior State Counsel Dilipa Peiris appeared for the Prosecution and Mr. M.L.M.Ameen PC with Mr.Shanka Ranasinghe appeared for the Deputy Minister. |
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