Godahewa is released from the SEC case

Former State Minister Nalaka Godahewa and two others were today 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's evidence was not sufficient to prove the charges against the accused. The High Court ordered to acquit and release 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.