COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa & businessman Thirukumar Nadesan were acquitted and released from the case filed over the misappropriation of public funds for the construction of a mansion in Malwana.

Basil Rajapaksa, the first defendant in the case, was given three indictments by the Attorney General for misappropriating state funds to purchase a 16-acre plot of land and build a mansion along with a swimming pool.

Ex-Minister Basil Rajapaksa and businessman Thirukumar Nadesan were present at the Gampaha High Court on Friday (3) when the verdict in the case was delivered.

When the case was called up on the 25th of March 2022, the first witness in the case Upul Kumara Ramawickrama, the contractor, testified that he did not make a complaint with the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division and cannot accept the signature placed in the statement.

Deputy Solicitor General Sunil Kularatne, who led the prosecution informed the Gampaha High Court that the evidence will not be recorded in the case filed against Rajapaksa and Nadesan, as the witness had made such a statement.

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