HOMAGAMA DISTRICT JUDGE FURTHER REMANDED

The judge went to the hotel at 9 in the night ...not to take a bribe My Lord
- Lawyer

     When District Judge of Homagama Mr.Sunil Abeysingha who had been taken into custody over an incident where he is supposed to have taken a bribe of Rupees 3 lakhs appeared in courts today, lawyer Hemantha Warnakulasooriya who appeared on behalf of the accused said that though the latter had been accused of having gone to Siyarata Hotel in Hanwella to take a bribe, the truth is that he had gone there to find out why his Baas who had undertaken work in his house had not turned up that day.

    At this moment the Magistrate questioned, "Does he go to look for Baas at 9 in the night?"
    "The Homagama District Judge is a distinguished Judge who works irrespective of day or night. He is a person who conducted proceedings in courts even by candlelight. When he involves himself in work ... there is no time limit for him".

    "Why candlelight? Isn't there electricity in Homagama Courts?" the Magistrate questioned again.

    The Judge's party once again expressed that though the lady who owns Siyarata Hotel has complained in this manner, that hotel actually is a disgusted place where a brothel too is in operation.

    The complainant side, the Bribery and Corruption Commission mentioned that all telephone reports have been secured in a manner that proof is available that the judge has taken a bribe.

   The Judge's side then exclaimed, "There are barrels of corruption in the case of politicians ... these are not looked into. This is an attempt taken to bring the judiciary into difficulties and to bring disrepute to the government".

   The complainant party, the Bribery Commission replied back, "We too have been appointed by the government .... there is no need for us to discredit the government!"

   After investigating the case, the Chief Magistrate of Colombo, Gihan Pilapitiya ordered that Homagama District Judge Mr.Sunil Abeysingha and the suspect, police constable Mahinda Kithsiri be remanded till the 10th of this month.

   The reason for filing this case is for trying to take a bribe of Rupees 3 lakhs from a person in order to return a verdict in favour of that person, in a case pending at Homagama District courts.

   This District Judge was taken into custody on the night of 29th May by the Bribery Commission. The arrest was made on that day at the moment a bribe of Rs.3 lakhs was being taken by the private security guard of the judge in the adjoining house of the hotel of the complainant lady in Hanwella area.

   Police constable Mahinda Kithsiri and the Homagama District Judge Sunilwickrama Abeysingha had tried to take this bribe at Siyarata Hotel situated at 90/1, Embulgama, Hanwella belonging to one Deepika Shyamali Jayaweera.

   It is reported that the bribe of Rs.3 lakhs was taken to give a favourable verdict to the suspects in a case (No. 13774)  which is presently being heard at Homagama District courts. The complaint had been made to the police by Galkande Bodhiwansha Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Raja Maha Vihara in Embulgama.

   Information has been received that when the complainant party of this case had come to Homagama courts to appear in the case, a woman police constable had said that if the case is to be won, money should be spent and had asked for `the mobile phone number and given it to the first suspect.

   Attorney-at-Law Mrs.Sithara Meemana appeared on behalf of the first suspect while President's Counsel Hemantha warnakulasooriya with a team of other attorneys-at-Law appeared on behalf of the Judge. Though it was ordered that the District Judge be remanded at the first hearing, the latter had mentioned that he needs to be hospitalised because of a back-pain he is suffering from. Considering his request and his protection at the prison, steps were taken later for him to be admitted to the Prison Hospital.

   After today's hearing, he was taken back to the Prison Hospital