Actress Aksha Sudari seeks soft bail condition

(Published in Daily Mirror on 30/10/2015)
 
By Shehan Chamika Silva

Actress Aksha Sudari who was on bail for allegedly defrauding an Indian businessman to the tune of some Rs. 160 mn, yesterday sought a softer bail condition from Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Pieris. Counsel Sarath Soysa, who appeared for Ms. Sudari, requested that she be granted soft bail conditions since she had been reporting to the CID regularly every Sunday in keeping with the bail condition.

Watching the interest of the victim, President's Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetti objetced to the move, since another party had also complained against her and investigations were not yet concluded on that. The CID told the Magistrate to postpone the case, since they were preparing extracts to be sent to the Attorney General for his opinion.

Upali Kodikara gets bail after apologising to police

(Published in Daily Mirror on 29/10/2015)
 
By Shehan Chamika Silva

 Former Western Provincial Minister Upali Kodikara, who was remanded for obstructing the duty of the Police Officer at the BMICH, was yesterday released on cash bail of Rs. 10,000  and two sureties of Rs. one million each by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya, after he made an apology to Kirulapone OIC Upul Samarasinghe in the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

Appearing for Provincial Councilor Kodikara, Counsel R.A.P.Ranawaka requested the Magistrate to grant bail, since an educational tour to Indonesia had been scheduled prior to this incident, by 41 councilors of the western provincial council and yesterday was the date of departure. Objecting to the request, SSP Counsel Ajith Rohana told the Magistrate that this was not a mere incident but an insult to the whole Police Department, as the incident had received media publicity.

He also submitted that Police could agree to allow bail if Mr. Kodikara apologized to the Police.
Mr. Kodikara then settled to apologize to the Police officer, who was involved in the incident and apologized according in the Sinhala tradition.

The Magistrate further asked the Police whether they accepted the apology or objected to the bail.
However, SSP Ajith Rohana agreed to bail on the condition of preventing Mr. Kodikara from giving statements to the Media with regard to this case.

The Magistrate further ordered Mr. Kodikara not to make any statements to the media with regard to this case and directed him to report to the Cinnamon Gardens Police every Sunday following his arrival in Sri Lankan after concluding the tour. The case was postponed for November 02.

Tamil Prisoners' bail plea: Magistrate awaits AG's report

(Published in Daily Mirror on 29/10/2015)
 
By Shehan Chamika Silva

 Colombo Additional Magistrate Amila Ariyasena today rejected a bail appeal by Tamil prisoners, who were in remand prison for alleged terrorist involvement, since the Attorney General’s report on them was not received by the TID of the Police.

The Magistrate made this order considering the submission made by Counsel Senaka Perera and Thushara N. Dasun for the suspects, who contended that the suspects had been in remand custody for more than 18 months without being charged.

The Counsel also submitted that there were precedents, where bail had been given previously.

However, the Magistrate asserted that it was essential to consider the Attorney General’s opinion, since the matter concerned the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The TID told Magistrate that investigations were already concluded and the extracts of the investigations had been sent to the Attorney General for his opinion.

But they had still not received it. The case was postponed for November 11.

SB's counsels demand CID stance

(Published in Daily Mirror on 29/10/2015)
 
By Shehan Chamika Silva

 Colombo Chief Magistrate today ordered the Financial Crime Investigation Division to report whether the former Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake was a suspect or not over the alleged stealing of movable properties in a valuable residence in Colombo 7, which was a gift to the Colombo University by an eminent Gynecologist.

Appearing for Minister S.B. Dissanayake, Counsel K.V. Thavarasa and Kelum Ubeysekara sought the Magistrate to direct CID to disclose the suspects in the incident, since there was an attempt to tarnish former Minister Dissanayake’s reputation by spreading rumours through media against him.

The CID told Magistrate that former Minister Dissanayake was not yet considered a suspect in the incident but investigations were not yet concluded.

The residence relating to this case of Dr. Siva Shinnathamby, at No.11, Hewa Avenue, Colombo 7 was gifted to the Colombo University earlier to be used as a hostel for female undergraduates studying at the University of Colombo.

After the demise of Dr. Chinnathambi in 2000 the residence was permitted to be taken by her nephew as per the last will and soon after the nephew’s demise in 2010, the executor and trustee to Dr. Chinnathambi’s will Kandiah Neelakandan handed over the property from a deed of gift to the University of Colombo.

However, it is reported, up to now the Colombo University has not used it as a female undergraduate hostel. The case was postponed for November 4.

Dark spot for facial cream suspects

(Published in Daily Mirror on 24/10/2015)
 
By Shehan Chamika Silva

The five suspects arrested for allegedly using a well-known facial cream trade mark illegally and infringing the rights of the trade mark rights of a facial cream manufacturer, were produced in the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court by the CID yesterday.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya issued an arrest warrant on one suspect who was not present in Court yesterday while the other suspects were released on bail.

Spotlight widened on temple elephant

(Published in Daily Mirror on 24/10/2015)
 
By Shehan Chamika Silva

 The Wildlife Department yesterday sought permission from Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Pieris to probe the circumstances as to how the elephant allegedly caught from a jungle was kept at the Alan Methiniyarama Temple in Kirulapone under a forged licence.

The Department said they had already recorded a statement from Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera of the temple and was launching a special investigation to uncover the incident on how the Elephant was brought to the temple in The Department said they had already recorded a statement from Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera of the temple January this year.

Further, the prosecution told the Magistrate that the elephant was now being kept at the Pinnawala Transit Home and well treated.

Earlier in January, the elephant was found at the temple and taken into the custody by the CID and Wildlife Department.

The Magistrate allowed request of the Wildlife Department and the case was postponed for November 20.

Grama Niladari Arrested for Accepting Rs. 25,000 Bribe

(Published in Daily Mirror on 23/10/2015)
 
By Shehan Chamika Silva

 A Grama Niladari attached to the 'Theravil' Division in Vishvamadu, who was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 25,000 was further remanded till October 23 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya..

Following a complaint lodged by the complainant the Bribery Commission carried out a special raid and arrested the Grama Niladari, Subramaniam Sevanayagam, while accepting the bribe.

Investigations revealed that when the complainant went before the suspect to obtain an official letter of certifying the resident of the complainant's cousin, who is in France, the suspect had solicited a bribe of Rs. 30,000 to provide the letter.

Former CJ's case postponed

(Published in Daily Mirror on 23/10/2015)
 
By Shehan Chamika Silva

Considering the newly appointed Board to the Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the inquiry against the former Chief Justice Shiranee Bandaranayake for not revealing her assets, was postponed for January 21 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday.

Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake, requested the Magistrate to postpone the inquiry, since a new Commission had been appointed for the Bribery Commission recently and they may have to take few weeks to consider the matter in order to report to the Court.

Appearing for the former Chief Justice, Nalin Ladduwahetty agreed with the prosecution and requested another date.

The case was earlier filed by the Bribery Commission against the former Chief Justice Shiranee Bandaranayake for failure to declare her assets.

22 IRCs noticed to provide photographs to CCD

(Published in Daily Mirror on 21/10/2015)

By Shehan Chamika Silva

The Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Pieris noticed twenty two criminals to provide their photographs before the Colombo Crime Division in Dematagoda on October 28.

Considering the report sent by the Crime Recording Department, the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) requested the Magistrate  to notice 22 listed Criminals to present before the CCD on October 28.

Additional Magistrate further ordered the CCD to report on the progress of registering photographs of the criminals on December 08.

Alleged bribe taking: WP RPTA officer further remanded

(Published in Daily Mirror on (21/10/2015)

By Shehan Chamika Silva

The officer attached to the Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority, who was arrested for accepting a bribe of Rs. 1000 to provide a license to a bus driver, was remanded till October 23 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate.

The suspect, Ajitha Ranjith, had allegedly solicited a bribe of Rs. 10, 000 to provide a license to the driver of a bus which travelled on the bus route from Colombo to Halkandawila, and was arrested by officers of the Bribery Commission while accepting a bribe of Rs. 1000 on Friday (16).

Sajin seeks to go abroad

(Published in Daily Mirror on (21/10/2015)

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Former UPFA MP, Sajin De Vass Gunawardana filed a motion before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court seeking permission to travel to Singapore for the purpose of seeking medical treatment for his father. Court fixed Thursday for the inquiry, and noticed the Bribery Commission to be present before Court as the Magistrate cannot decide on the request ex parte.


Earlier, the Magistrate permitted to release the impounded passport of Former MP and allowed to travel to Singapore for a five-day visit to seek medical treatment and ordered to return the passport following his return to Sri Lanka. Mr. Gunawardena was charged for not presenting assets declaration, and banned earlier by the Magistrate’s Court from leaving the country.

Upali Kodikara remanded October 23

(Published in Daily Mirror on 20/10/2015)

By Shehan Chamika Silva

UPFA’s western provincial councillor Upali Kodikara, who was arrested on charges of obstructing a police officer, who was on duty at the BMICH premises, was remanded till October 23 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

The Police informed Court that the PRECIFAC Secretary had instructed the Police not to allow anyone else to enter the building other than ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa who was summoned to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to record his statement.

 Mr. Kodikara is alleged to have attempted to enter the premises after forcibly pushing aside the police officer who was on duty at the elevator. Police requested the Magistrate to remand the suspect, since the incident had received media publicity and that it was a bad example to the other public representatives.

Police said the suspect was on bail in some other cases as well.  Counsel Senarath Jayasundara appearing for the suspect told the Magistrate that such offences were bailable at the first hearing and rejected the allegations made against his client saying that there was no such orders given by the Commission Secretary.

The Kirillapone OIC Upul Samarasinghe who had tried to prevent Mr. Kodikara from entering the premises told the Magistrate that he had not faced such a situation in his 27 years of police service.

Arrested Customs officers remanded till Oct. 30

(Published in Daily Mirror on 17/10/2015)

By Shehan Chamika Silva

The three Customs Officers, who were arrested by the Bribery Commission for soliciting and accepting the highest ever bribe of Rs. 125 million from a motor spare parts importer, were ordered to be remanded till October 30 after being produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

Bribery Commission Director General Ms. Dilrukshi Wickramasinghe, producing the three suspects, Sudheera Parakrama Gunadasa, Jagath Gunathilaka and Upali Perera, requested the Magistrate to order the prisons authorities to allow only the immediate family members and Lawyers of them to visit the suspects, since investigations carried out so far had revealed the involvement of two other accomplices to the incident.

Magistrate Pilapitiya accordingly ordered the Prisons superintendent to remand the suspects at the Kaduwela Remand Prison.

He also ordered that a document for the identification had to be tendered if anyone other than their immediate family members or lawyers wanted to visit the suspects.

According to the Commission, the three suspects, including a Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent allegedly agreed to release a stock of spare parts imported for the use of the SLTB if they paid them Rs. 150 million.

The suspects had allegedly told the importer that duty on the imported spare parts was amounting to Rs. 1500 million.

Pleaded guilty to pirating 'Malagiya Aththo'

(Published in Daily Mirror on October 10, 2015)

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya on Wednesday (7) reserved his verdict on an individual who pleaded guilty to pirating Professor Ediriweera Sarathchandra's renowned novel 'Malagiya Aththo' for October 28.

On a raid carried out by CID, following a complaint made by Mrs. Lalitha Sarathchandra, spouse of the late Professor, had recovered 31 copies of the novel printed illegally and left for sale at various book shops by the suspect.

Magistrate Pilapitiya directed the CID to file charges against the suspect under the Intellectual Property Act and also directed the police to fingerprint the suspect.

The claimant, Mrs. Sarathchandra told the Magistrate that she does not want any compensation, since the work done by her husband, Professor Ediriweera Sarathchandra, was priceless, but in return she asked the Court to impose the maximum punishment against the accussed.

Lalith, Anusha Released on Bail

(Published in Daily Mirror on October 8, 2015)

By Shehan Chamika

Former Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, and former TRC Director General Anusha Palpita had been released on a cash bail of Rs. 100,000 with three sureties of Rupees one million each by the Colombo High Court.

The court also imposed conditions on their bail. They had been remanded for alleged criminal misappropriation of Rs. 600 million belonging to the TRC (Telecommunications Regulatory Commission) somewhere between 2014 October and 2015 January 05.

The Attorney General had pressed charges against the accused for allegedly spending the amount of the TRC funds for a ‘Sil Redi’ distribution programme, contrary to TRC Act regulations.

Colombo High Court Justice Kusala Sarojani Weerawardhana has also ordered that the accused should get special authorisation to leave the country and or change their residence.

The Court also directed the accused to report before court appropriately and warned that failure to do so could result in the cancellation of bail.

Counsel Kalinga Indathissa PC appeared for Lalith Weeratunga and Anusha Palpita, while senior State Counsel Thusith Mudalige prosecuted.

Further inquiry fixed for November 09.