Democratic National Alliance (DNA) MP Sunil Handunnetti plans to go before court against the Bribery Commission over its inaction or failure to launch an investigation over a case filed by him. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) stalwart Handunnetti had lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption against its Chairman Justice Jagath Balapatabendi, for alleged bribery and corruption charges.
MP Handunnetti had complained to the Commission against its Chairman on January 1 and had again visited the Bribery Commission on January 31, as his complaint was not taken for investigation. However, the officials had refused to provide him with any details on that day, but some newspapers on February 9 had reported that the complaint had been rejected without being taken up for investigation.
According to the JVP MP, he had again visited the Bribery Commission on February 12, where he was assured that a letter dated February 5, had been sent to his address by the Commission’s Director General Lakshmi Jayawickrama. He was also told to read the letter for details. Hadununnetti told The Nation that he did not receive such a letter from the Bribery Commission, but had received a letter on February 17, signed on February 10 and not on February 05 as mentioned by the DG Jayawickrama.
The MP said he suspects that the Commission provided him wrong information with an intention to mislead him and safeguard other parties. “I can leave that issue, but the most important case now is that the letter which they have sent me is illegal. The letter has informed me that the Commission has decided to seek instructions from the Attorney General over my case,” the MP said.
He added that when a complaint is made, an investigation should be conducted and depending on the investigation results, a case should be filed in court. “The Bribery Commission Act does not allow a case directly to pass onto the AG. The Commission had failed to act according to the Act and I have already instructed my lawyers to file a case against the Commission,” MP Handunnetti said.
