Fowzie gets suspended imprisonment for corruption charges

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   
Former State Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, who pleaded guilty to a corruption case, was sentenced yesterday by the Colombo High Court to a two-year suspended imprisonment.   
Colombo High Court Judge Nawaratne Marasinghe suspended the two-year imprisonment for ten years, considering the accused’s guilty plea and the fact that he is an 86-year-old elderly person. The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 400,000 on the accused.   
The Bribery Commission filed this corruption case against parliamentarian A.H.M. Fowzie for allegedly causing a Rs.1.07 million unlawful loss to the government by misusing a vehicle belonging to the Disaster Management Centre between 2010 and 2015.   
The Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed this corruption case against the accused under Section 70 of the Bribery Act on four charges.   
The Bribery Commission alleged that MP Fowzie had unlawfully utilized a Land Cruiser Jeep belonging to the Disaster Management Centre between 2010 and 2015, while he was serving as a Senior Minister. The value of the vehicle was estimated at Rs. 19.5 million.