Gotabaya Rajapaksa ‘museum’ court case to be heard within a week

The Permanent High Court at Bar has decided to hear the case against former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others, filed over alleged misappropriation of state funds accumulating to Rs 33.9 million, on a daily basis from the 15th of October.

The case was taken up before a three-judge bench consisting of Special High Court Judges Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne today (30).

Defense attorney President’s Counsel Ali Sabri, speaking on behalf of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, told the court that his client is not satisfied with the revised indictments of the case.

PC Sabry further stated that the defense would present submissions to the Supreme Court in this regard.

The other six defendants of the case also told the judge bench that they are of the same opinion as the main defendant.

Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General, stated that the revised indictments were presented as per the agreement reached at the Supreme Court.

It is expected that the revision petition filed by the former Defense Secretary with the Supreme Court, which is to be taken up again on the 1st of October, will conclude the hearing within a week’s time, the Deputy Solicitor General said, seeking the Special High Court to set a date to hear the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case on a daily basis.

The Special High Court then ordered to hear the case against Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others daily starting from the 15th of October while issuing summons on four witnesses to appear before the courts on that day.

The case against the former Defense Secretary and six others was filed by the Attorney General under Article 388 of the Penal Code Ordinance and the Article 5(1) of Public Property Act, for allegedly misappropriating state funds amounting to Rs 33.9 million during the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum and Memorial in Medamulana.