Anusha - Lalith secures bail because they need time to pay fine of 1040 lakhs!

Anusha -  Lalith secures bail because they need time to pay fine of 1040 lakhs!

Anusha Pelpita and Lalith Weeratunga accused of having misused a sum of 600 million in distributing sil cloth were fined 1040 lakhs and were sentenced to 3 years in prison. However they were released on bail yesterday when that case in courts has still not come to a close. President's Counsel Kalinga Indratissa requested for bail on their behalf forwarding the

following matters to court:

"My Lord ... it appears in the decree that if this amount of Rs. 50 million fine is not settled, an additional 2 year sentence in jail would be enforced. As such, if this fine is not settled, a jail term of 3 years imposed on them as punishment in addition to that sentence of 2 years would in total become a jail sentence of 5 years in all. However if the fine is settled, they would have to undergo a jail term of 3 years only. It is necessary that they be released on bail for them to procure monies to pay that fine.

My Lord ... these accused have been imposed a minimum jail sentence of 3 years. The accused have forwarded an appeal against it. There is no practical possibility at all of hearing that appeal in the next 3 years ahead and to bring it to a finish.

My Lord ... This case has been heard in court for a period of about a 100 days prior to this. On each such occasion the accused parties have been present in courts and have not absconded. Both the accused are distinguished civil servants. We cannot believe that they would evade facing court without facing inquiry of the appeal".

Having considered these special matters it was ordered that they be released on bail. The State Counsel has not objected to this. High Court Judge, Mr. Gihan Kulatunga who perused matters brought before him said that matters forwarded by the defendant parties would be accepted as special points. The High Court Judge then ordered that under those conditions they be released on bail.