Abdul Safhir Mohomad Finaz vs Attorney General – CA 43/2016-2017

Brief
The case between the Attorney General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Abdul Safhir Mohomad Finaz addressed the issue of whether the conviction and sentence for rape under section 362(2)(e) of the Penal Code by the High Court of Puttalam was justified. It was held that the conviction was affirmed, reaffirming the principle that delayed complaints can be relied upon if adequately explained. This decision relied on relevant statutes and precedents, emphasizing that minor contradictions in evidence do not undermine the core allegation.

Deepali Wijesundera J. — The main judgment recounted the background of the case, where the accused-appellant was convicted for rape and sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment. The prosecutrix, aged 16 and pregnant, alleged