Navoor Thambi Rifnas et al. v. Attorney General – CA HCC 0140/2010-2021

In Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Attorney General) v. Navoor Thambi Rifnas and Others, the court considered the legality of convictions and sentences imposed by the High Court of Kalmunai against four accused persons for kidnapping and grave sexual abuse of a minor. It was determined that convictions for the 1st and 2nd accused were not legally sustainable due to material discrepancies in the victim’s testimony and insufficient corroboration from the Judicial Medical Officer, resulting in their acquittal. Convictions for the 3rd and 4th accused, including grave sexual abuse and aiding and abetting, were upheld on the basis of credible supporting evidence. The court affirmed that where testimonial inconsistencies generate reasonable doubt regarding an accused, acquittal is man