Sri Lanka, Aug. 8 -- In July 2008, a criminal case was initiated in the Magistrate's Court of Ratnapura against the Appellant referred to in this article, who was charged with three offences, namely cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal misappropriation of property. The Appellant pleaded "not guilty," but after a trial, the Magistrate found him guilty on all three counts in 2014. He was sentenced to a year of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1,500 for each charge.

The Appellant appealed this conviction and sentence to the High Court of the Sabaragamuwa Province. The High Court, however, acquitted him of the criminal breach of trust and criminal misappropriation of property charges, quashing the corresponding sentences. ...