Murshida Shiyam vs. Hon. Attorney General – SC APPEAL 119/2023-2024

The case between the State and the 3rd accused-appellant, Murshida Shiyam, addressed the issue of whether an omission in recording a conviction amounted to an acquittal. The court held that the correction of the procedural oversight by the Court of Appeal in convicting the 3rd accused on count 4 was appropriate. The decision reaffirmed the principle that an omission to record a conviction does not constitute an acquittal and relied on Article 139(1) of the Constitution along with pertinent legal precedents to support the evidentiary findings indicating that the charges were established beyond a reasonable doubt.

K. Priyantha Fernando, J. : It was determined that the earlier omission in the High Court proceedings did not preclude a subsequent conviction on count 4 and that the invocation