Yesterday (13) the sentences of three businessmen who were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and fines for the biggest “VAT” fraud case in South Asia were upheld by the majority of judges of the three-member Court of Appeal. Sri Lanka Latest News
The Colombo High Court has convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour and fines each. The majority of judges of the three-member Court of Appeal bench have given this decision dismissing the appeal petitions submitted on behalf of the defendants Mohammad Zubair Awami, Mohammad Maujul Amir and Mohammad Kamil Qutbuddin.
The President of the three-judge panel and the President of the Court of Appeal, Mr. Nishanka Bandula Karunaratne, announced his decision and stated that the defendants should be acquitted of all charges.
But the member judges of the three-judge bench, Sampath Abeykoon and R. Judges Gurusinghe had stated that the appeal petitions of the defendants should be dismissed as no reasonable facts have been revealed to interfere with the judgment announced by the Colombo High Court.
Accordingly, upon the agreement of the majority of the judges of the three-member Court of Appeal, it was decided to confirm the sentences imposed by the Colombo High Court against the defendants and dismiss their appeals.
The Colombo High Court sentenced these three defendants on September 26, 2014, to serve a serious term of imprisonment for defrauding the Inland Revenue Department of 3.9 billion rupees in VAT between November 15, 2002 and December 15, 2004. 20 each and fines were also imposed.
At the time of the High Court trial, the defendants had fled the court and the trial was held without them.
