The job of the prosecution in any case is to prove without reasonable doubt the guilt of an accused and we have done just that.

That was the closing submission made by FICAC lawyers in the case of former Commissioner Central Inoke Devo who is charged with 9 counts of official corruption and abuse of office.

FICAC lawyer Sanjeewa Dissanayake stressed that the 22 prosecution witnesses all had collaborating evidence which showed beyond reasonable doubt that the evidence shown by FICAC was unquestionable.

Dissanayake also told the assessors that the allegation that FICAC had threatened the accused Devo is not true.

He referred to the caution statement of Devo when he was interviewed by FICAC and in it, it was clearly shown that the questioning officer had given time for the accused to have dinner, breaks and even allowed for him to call his lawyer.

Dissanayake also raised the point about the way the accused blamed other people for what he had allegedly done.

He was referring to the way Devo, while taking to the witness box said that he had nothing to do with regards to authorizing the use of official transport to collect alcohol from various outlets as well as ringing people up demanding alcohol for the office Christmas party in 2006 where he said that he had done nothing and that the authorizing officer was Alumita Raceva, the Divisional Secretary, who had said in Court that she was ordered to do so by Devo.

Dissanayake also told the Court that if Devo’s claimed that he was forced and threatened during an interview by FICAC were true, then why was the matter not brought up by the accused’s lawyer when Devo was given the chance to call him.

He then referred to Devo’s answer during cross examination where he had said that his lawyer had been informed, yet nothing was done.

In closing, Dissanyake stressed that custom is not the law and procedure should be followed when it came to Christmas parties or even the use of official transport.

Judge Justice Daniel Goundar has adjourned the matter for summing up on Thursday and will then determine a hearing date.

 

Earlier...

The defense counsel in the Inoke Devo trial revealed in closing submissions today that investigations into the Devo case was based on an anonymous letter and the name of the complainant has not been revealed during the entire trial which lasted for 14 days.

Rajendra Chaudhry told the assessors that the complainant was also not called to give evidence and the evidence provided by the 22 prosecution witnesses were inconsistent.

Chaudhry also raised concern as to why the state did not call FICAC's Chief Investigator Inspector Isireli Tagicaki as a witness in court as he was the arresting officer in the case.

He also told the court that Devo was allegedly threatened during the interview process and that he was interrogated continuously for 16 hours.

Chaudhry also said that almost all the state witnesses never mentioned that Devo personally called them to ask for liquor.

He said that calls were made by the an employee named Alumita from the Commissioner Central's Office and none of the state witness mentioned that liquor was picked up Devo himself.

Chaudhry mentioned in court that all the liquor licenses were approved by the Central Liquor Licensing board and not Devo as stated in the charge sheet.

He told the court that Devo was just a member of the Central Liquor Licensing Board and was chaired by the then Chief Magistrate, David Balram.

Chaudhry said Devo only signed the approval letter once all the formalities were done by the licensing board.

He raised concern that in the charge sheet it stated that Inoke Devo and others committed the offence.

He questioned who these other people are and why they have not been charged.

He also told the court that contradictory statements were given by some of the state witnesses.

The case continues this afternoon with FICAC making their closing statements.