Appeal Court orders to acquit all accused in Bribery Commission's Avant Garde case

The Appeal Court today (Sept 12) directed the Colombo Magistrate's Court to acquit all accused in the Avant Garde case filed by the Bribery Commission.

The Bribery Commission had moved court against eight suspects including former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for permitting Avant Garde Maritime Services to operate a floating armoury resulting in losses worth Rs 11.4 billion to the government.

Previously, the Colombo Magistrate's Court had dismissed the preliminary objections filed by Mr. Rajapaksa against the case. The former defence secretary had then filed a revision petition at the Appeal Court which was granted leave to proceed earlier today.

Against this backdrop, the Attorney General has also filed a case against 13 individuals over the illegal operation of the floating armoury, with 7573 charges being levelled against the accused.

The suspects have been charged over the illegal possession and transportation of firearms and ammunition, and also for providing false evidence over the matter.

Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has not been named as an accused in this case which is being heard before a three-member trial-at-bar at the Colombo High Court.