The High Court also imposed a fine of Rupees twenty-five million and directed to pay compensation to the complainant to the tune of Rupees one million
Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga was today sentenced to two-year imprisonment suspended for five years by Colombo High Court over an indictment filed by the Attorney General.
Minister Ranatunga was convicted for the thirteenth count out of fifteen by High Court Judge Manjula Tillekaratne over an indictment filed for threatening a businessman over the phone and demanding Rs.64 million in 2015.
The Court further ordered the Minister to pay a fine of Rs.25 million. In the event of a default, the Minister will have to serve a sentence of nine months of imprisonment. The Court also directed the Minister to pay a compensation of one million rupees to the virtual complaint of the case.
Meanwhile, Maureen Ranatunge, the wife of Minister Ranatunga and Naresh Kumar Fareek’s second and third accused were acquitted and released from all charges filed against them.
Minister Ranatunga was ordered to be acquitted and released from the rest of the charges on the basis that the prosecution has failed to prove these charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Attorney General filed indictments on 15 counts against three accused Prasanna Ranatunge, Maureen Ranatunge and Naresh Kumar Fareek, based on charges of committing offences between April 6, 2015, and June 2, 2015.
The prosecutors maintained that businessman Gehard Mendis who purchased a 2.5 acre land in Meethotamulla sometime back, had allegedly requested the former Chief Minister to evacuate the unlawful occupants of that land and fill it with soil.
The prosecutors alleged that the Minister’s wife and two others had agreed with the said businessman to execute this deal. The latter had already paid Rs.15 million to the former for the services.
The businessman Gehard Mendis had complained with FCID, saying that the former Chief Minister had threatened him over the phone, demanding the rest of the money involved in the promised deal.
The prosecution maintained that the investigations have revealed that the accused had misappropriated a sum of Rs.15 million.
The voice recordings of the alleged incident had been made a production item.
Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris appeared for the Attorney General.
Anil Silva PC, with counsel Dhanaraj Samarakoon and Mihiri Madushani, instructed by Senior Counsel Mary Dickman appeared for the accused
