The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, ruling that he had no right to challenge an interim order of the High Court which allowed bribery charges against him to proceed.
In its decision, the Supreme Court noted that the right to appeal is not automatic but must be expressly granted by law.
Karunanayake and businessman Arjun Aloysius were indicted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged rent payments and benefits amounting to over Rs. 11 million between February and September 2016.
The accused had argued that a Cabinet Minister could not be prosecuted under the Bribery Act due to conflicting definitions in the Constitution. The High Court rejected this objection, and Karunanayake sought to appeal that decision.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that the accused could only appeal after conviction and not against interim orders. It also noted that the failure to name the Director General of CIABOC as a party in the earlier appeal rendered it legally flawed.
The appeal was dismissed, and Karunanayake was ordered to pay Rs. 100,000 in legal costs. (Newswire)
The post SC dismisses appeal by former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake appeared first on Newswire.