Former Deputy Minister Shantha Premaratne accused for taking a bribe of Rs 50,000 to provide employment to two persons was acquitted and discharged by Colombo High Court today after the prosecution failed prove the allegations beyond doubt.
Mr Premaratne is supposed to have accepted the bribe 15 years back that he would provide two jobs in the Health Ministry to the children of the complainant - Lionel Kumarage Sathurusinghe .
The court held that the charges itself were filed in an erroneous manner and that the allegations had not been proved with evidence.
The court held that political reasons too had led to the complaint and the witnesses statements were not given voluntarily.
Evidence showed that the money had been given for a party office, the court held.
The judgement was delivered by High court judge Namal Balalle.
U.R. de Silva, Pc with Harshana Wijenayake, Pradeepa Kaluaarachchi and Ranga Kobbewatta appeared for Mr Premaratne.
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