Thuwan Siththi Jesima vs Officer-in-Charge, Financial Investigation Unit – CA PHC APN 72/2013-2014

In the case between Thuwan Siththi Jesima (Petitioner) and the Officer-in-Charge, Financial Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigation Department, and the Hon. Attorney General (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether bail should be granted to a suspect held on remand for over one year and eight months without being formally charged, in respect of an alleged offence carrying a statutory minimum sentence of one year and maximum of five years. It was held that prolonged detention without charge constituted exceptional circumstances warranting the grant of bail, reaffirming the principle that pre-trial detention should not be unduly prolonged absent formal charges. Reliance was placed on the consideration of relevant precedents and statutory interpretation of bail provisions, w