A former magistrate of Galle has been sentenced to 05 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court.

She was found guilty over two allegations that had committed an offence under the Public Property Act by under-recording the fines charged for excise duty offences.
Former Galle magistrate D. S. Merenchi Arachchi was sentenced to prison in this manner.

Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja also ordered the arrest of the accused Merenchi Arachchi, who is currently absconding. The trial was held in absentia.

She is accused of recording a fine of Rs. 7,500 in an excise case as Rs. 1,500 between 04 and 05 of April 2000 and by also recording a fine of Rs. 5,000 in another case as Rs. 1,500 in violation of the Public Property Act. The Attorney General had filed this case alleging she was in criminal breach of trust.