National Integrity Award winner, Lalith Ambanwela saw the judgement sentencing seven accused who threw acid on him to jail terms as “encouraging and exemplary” enabling a government servant to serve in an upright and straight manner.
“This is a good judgement given on behalf of the future of the country. This is not my personal victory. It is a victory gained by government servants on behalf of good governance.”
TISL awarded the National Integrity Award to him in 2004 for his fearless service as an Audit Superintendent in the Auditor-General’s Department.
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Ammbanwela acid throwing suspects jailed
Central Central Province High Court Judge Preethi Padman Surasena yesterday found the seven accused, in the Lalith Ambanwala acid throwing case, guilty and sentenced them to jail terms ranging from 10 to 70 years. They were also fined.
The third and fourth accused were found guilty on four counts and sentenced to 70 years jail with hard labour each. The jail term for three of the counts was twenty years each and for the other ten years. The jail terms are to be served concurrently.
The first and second accused were sentenced to 10 years, with hard labour, each while the 5th, 6th and 7th were sentenced to 30 years each with hard labour.
In this case, a former Deputy Director of Education, Don Ananda Munasinghe, a former accountant Ananda Weerasinghe, M. Razik Mohamed Rihan, H. S. Mohamed Shafi, H. G. O. L. M. Mohamed Nilfer, M. J. M. R. Ifrul Rahuman and M. H. M. Iitias were charged with causing grievous hurt to Audit Superintendent Lalith Ambanwala and attempting to harm his life on May 20, 2002 at Asgiriya, Kandy.
In addition to the prison sentences on the 3rd and the 4th accused, the High Court Judge imposed a fine of Rs. 800,000 each. Failure to pay the fine would increase their sentence by eight years.
In addition, the third accused was ordered to pay compensation in Rs. 5 million to Lalith Ambanwala.
The 5th, 6th and 7th accused were sentenced to 30 years rigorous imprisonment and fined of Rs. 400,000 each. Failure to pay the fine would increase the jail term by four years.
The High Court Judge further ordered the first and the second accused to pay a fine of Rs. 200,000 each or serve a further two years RI.
The attempt on the life of Audit Superintendent Ambanwala was sequel to disclosure by him of a fraud to the tune of Rs. 17.5 million in the purchasing of computers for the Central Province Department of Education in 2002.
The accused were charged with attempt on the life Lalith Ambanwala and conspiracy to harm him.
Thirty eight witnesses gave evidence during the hearing.
Investigations into the crime were conducted by a team headed by Chief Inspector D. Gurusinghe, OIC Central Region Special Investigations Unit.
Lalith Ambanwala sustained severe damage to his eyes.
Attorney Mohan Seneviratne of the AG’s Department with State Counsel Udara Karunatilaka prosecuted.
President’s Counsel Wijaya Wickremaratne and a team of attorneys appeared for 1st and 2nd accused while President’s Counsel D. P. Kumarasinghe appeared for the third.
The Island:
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JAIL TERMS FOR SEVEN ACID THROWERS
Mastermind told to pay Rs.5 mn compensation to Audit Superintendent
The seven accused including public officers, businessmen and individuals were tried for the acid attack and conspiracy to kill
The seven accused in the Acid attack on Audit Superintendent Lalith Ambanwela in 2002 were sentenced by the Kandy High Court from 10 to 20 years hard labour after they were found guilty.
The Specially Assigned High Court Judge Preethi Padman Surasena sentenced the mastermind Mohammed Razik Mohammed Rehan who was found guilty to three jail terms of 20 years each and another jail term of 10 years on the fourth count. The four jail terms will have to be served concurrently. He was also fined Rs.800,000.
He was ordered to pay a compensation of Rs.5 million to the former Audit Superintendent and in default was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment (RI).
After a lengthy trial the accused Razik Mohammed Rehan was found guilty to the charge of conspiracy, attempted murder and aiding and abetting several other accused in committing the offence of throwing formic acid at the Audit Superintendent Lalith Ambawela and causing grievous hurt and attempting to commit murder.
In the 303 page judgment, Judge Surasena observed that the crime was committed against a public officer who was checking on public funds as the Government Auditor and this type of crime could not be condoned. He said the judgment was delivered considering the increasing crime rate and corruption. The defence counsel sought a lenient punishment considering that he had no previous convictions.The seven accused including public officers, businessmen and individuals were tried for the alleged acid attack and conspiracy to kill Auditor Lalith Ambanwela. The sentenced are former Central Province Education Department Chief Accountant Ananda Weerasinghe, an Education Director Ananda Munasinghe, a businessman Mohammed Razeek Rehan, M. Seyedu Mohammed Razak, L.M. Mohammed Nileufer, M.M.R. Rahaman and Mohammed M.M. Imitiaz
The court sentenced the first accused Don Ananda Munasinghe to ten years rigorous imprisonment (RI) and two years RI in default. The second accused Ananda Weerasinghe was sentenced to 10 years RI and fined Rs.200,000 and in default to two years RI. The third accused Mohammed Rehan was convicted on four counts and sentenced to 20 years RI on the first three counts and ten years RI on the fourth and the sentences to be served concurrently. He was fined Rs.200,000 on each count and two years RI in default of each fine. Fourth accused Hussain Seyeduy Mohammed was sentenced to 20 years RI and fined Rs.200,000 and two years RI in default.
The fifth accused Omar Lebbe Mohammed Mohammed Neulief to 20 years RI and fined Rs.200,000 and two years RI in default. Sixth accused Mohammed Riyal Iful Rahaman to 20 years RI and fined Rs.200,000 and two years imprisonment in default and the seventh accused Mohammed Haniffa Mohammed Imtiaz to 20 years RI and fined Rs.200,000 and two years RI in default.The acid attack was first reported to the Kandy Police on a call to 119 on May 20, 2002. The caller had said there had been an acid throwing at the turn off to the International cricket Stadium in Asgiriya.
The case began before the former Kandy High Court Judge Wimal Nambuwasam and was later taken over by Judge Surasena.D.P. Kumarsinghe PC, Wijeya Wickramaratne PC, attorneys Dhammika Ariyadasa, Nimal Surnweera Jeevani Herathge, Vernon Gunaskera and Mervyn Silva appeared for the accused.
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