Contempt of court charges: Ex-MP Hirunika acquitted

The Court of Appeal yesterday (04) acquitted former UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra of contempt of court charges.

The Court of Appeal bench consisting of Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice Shashi Mahendran gave its ruling after concluding the hearing of the petition filed by Hisham Jamaldeen over a statement made by her at a media briefing.

This order was issued after Premachandra, through her lawyer, made an undertaking to the court that she would withdraw the statement that she had made at a press conference regarding an order issued by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court and that she would refrain from making similar statements in the future.

The petitioner, Hisham Jamaldeen alleged that respondent Hirunika Premachandra had made a statement to the media regarding the order of the Magistrate in granting bail to him while there was an ongoing proceeding before the Magistrate’s Court of Mount Lavinia.

The petitioner alleged that the conduct of the respondent was tantamount to interference with ongoing judicial proceedings and an attempt to create suspicions in the minds of the public towards the administration of justice.