Ex-Minister's Brother, Local Politician Jailed 5.5 Years for Assault and Obstruction

Jagath Samantha, brother of former State Minister Sanath Nishantha and former Chairman of the Arachchikattuwa Pradeshiya Sabha, has been sentenced to five and a half years of rigorous imprisonment by the Chilaw High Court. The verdict, delivered today (May 15), found Samantha guilty on multiple charges stemming from an incident in 2007. These charges included obstructing the duties of the Arachchikattuwa Divisional Secretary, threatening the official, and being a member of an unlawful assembly. In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Samantha to pay Rs. 1 million in compensation to the Divisional Secretary, with an additional two-year sentence for non-compliance.