The 10-year prison sentence of the child abuser monk is overturned

The Court of Appeal has decided to completely annul the 10-year prison sentence and the order to pay compensation imposed on a Buddhist monk, who was convicted of a serious sexual abuse charge. The court issued this order stating that the statements of the minor child, who was allegedly abused in this incident, were not credible due to serious inconsistencies in his testimony.

This charge was leveled against Seethawaka Soratha Thero for allegedly abusing a 13-year-old boy within the temple's residential premises in March 2016. Following a lengthy trial regarding this incident, the Avissawella High Court convicted and sentenced the said monk.

However, a two-member Court of Appeal bench, pointing out serious inconsistencies and discrepancies in the statements of the child who testified about how the incident occurred, declared that the High Court's decision was unacceptable. The entire background of this case largely depended on the child's testimony that he was called inside while passing by the temple.

However, during the appeal hearing, lawyers appearing for the accused monk presented evidence showing significant discrepancies between the child's testimony in court and his initial statements given to the police and the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) a few days after the incident. The court stated in its decision that the child's failure to even accurately recall the basic background of the incident raises serious doubts about the credibility of the entire charges.

Furthermore, the court reiterated the legal precedent that it is unlawful to punish a person based solely on the statement of a single witness who provides contradictory information at different times regarding the same incident. Accordingly, the Court of Appeal completely annulled the 10-year rigorous imprisonment and compensation order imposed on Seethawaka Soratha Thero and ordered the court registrar to inform the Avissawella High Court to implement this decision immediately.