Godahewa acquitted and released from SEC case

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Former State Minister Nalaka Godahewa and two others were yesterday acquitted and released from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) case by the Colombo High Court.   
Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja observed that the prosecution evidence was not sufficient enough to prove the charges against the accused.   The High Court ordered to acquit and release the three accused without calling defence evidence, pursuant to an application made by defence in terms of Section 200 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in view of the fact that the evidence led by the prosecution totally failed to establish the commission of the offence charged against the accused in the indictment.   
The Attorney General had filed indictments against former State Minister Nalaka Godahewa and two others, in connection with their alleged involvement in conspiring to misappropriate Rs. 5 million of funds belonging to the Securities and Exchange Commission.   
In this case, the Attorney General alleged that former Chairman of SEC Nalaka Godahewa, SEC former Deputy Director General Dhammika Manjira Perera and Tharunyata Hetak Organisation Sports Director Ronnie Ibrahim had conspired to misappropriate a sum Rs. 5 million of funds which were granted as a sponsor to the Tharunyata Hetak Organisation (A tomorrow for youth) by the SEC and the money in question had been transferred to a bank account belonging to Ceylon Premium Sports Limited to promote rugby in contrary to a decision of SEC.   
The Attorney General further alleged that the three accused had committed this offense between 6 August and 18 August 2013. The third accused Ronnie Ibrahim was charged for aiding and abetting to commit this offence.