Withana Gunawardena v. Director-General, Commission to Investigate Bribery and Corruption – CA CASE NO. 261/2012-2017

In the case between the Director-General, Commission to Investigate Bribery and Corruption (Party A) and Withana Gunawardena (Party B), the court addressed whether the accused-appellant properly solicited and accepted a sum of Rs. 50,000 under Sections 19(b) and 19(c) of the Bribery Act. It was held that the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt due to material contradictions in testimonies, erroneous timelines in the indictment, and unresolved inconsistencies related to the physical context and chain of custody for the bribe. The conviction and sentence were set aside, reaffirming the requirement for proof beyond reasonable doubt in criminal proceedings. This decision relied on the standards established in criminal law precedents and statutes, underscoring the im