It seems like ages since I last wrote anything on here, and while lots of reasons have contributed to that fact, this is an attempt to break through the silence.
I was reading through the headlines today and came across an article that had me stumped for a while. I momentarily wondered if my comprehension skills had taken an abrupt downward spin, but on re-reading the article, I found out to my dismay that my initial impression was right.
According to this article the former Chief Justice, someone who I in my naivete expect to uphold even the smallest of laws, claims that the only reason the President of our country is in the seat of power is due to the CJ letting him off on a charge of embezzlement!
What really stunned me was the reason given by the former CJ for this unheard of action. Apparently, he was allowed to walk away scot free in the hope that he would protect the rights of others in the future!
Now maybe this makes total sense to some people, after all it did seem to do so to the former CJ at the time, but to naive old me it seems to overturn everything that i was taught about right and wrong. From the days I was toddling along in snot nosed abandon, it was drilled into me that punishment would be meted out to the wrongdoer and that we could safely lean upon the fact that nothing good would result from criminal conduct.
But lo and behold it seems that the highest authority in the land, the supreme court, in which all Sri Lankans place their trust to uphold justice and fair-play, have a totally different take on life. A take in which criminals should not be punished, but rather set free and rewarded with the opportunity to attain the highest of positions of power in the land.
Now correct me if I’m wrong here, but then shouldn’t this statement alone give any criminal who was convicted during the former CJ’s time the grounds to appeal his or her sentencing? After all, aren’t they also entitled to the same viewpoint, that they too could turn out to be wonderful protectors of humanity if only given the chance?
It seems in one sweeping gesture, the former CJ has re-written the laws governing not just Sri Lanka, but the civilized world in general. Not only that, but he also seems to have provided the justice system with the perfect solution to over crowding in the prison system, simply have all courts to rule innocent on any criminal case and send the offenders home with a pat on the back and a word of encouragement to become champions of human rights from that day forward!
I don’t know if there are any laws in place to hold the former CJ in criminal breach of trust for admitting to such an action, but I would love to see some sort of action taken against this man who has very obviously played favourites, re-written the laws and let down the whole criminal justice system of this country.
Well maybe I should keep a paper cutting of the said article in my wallet so that the next time I’m hauled up before a judge on some charge, I can have my lawyer plead for dismissal on the grounds that I would from now on become knight in shining armour who would go around on a white charger righting the wrongs of the world and bringing smiles to the faces of all and sundry, and maybe even become President of this wonderful country called Sri Lanka.
Or maybe such judicial munificence is only reserved for a very privileged few…
Tags: Chief Justice, Crime, justice, president
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