Former Lak Sathosa Chairman remanded over misappropriating Lanka Sathosa, Lak Sathosa vehicle during last Presidential Election.

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Former Lak Sathosa Chairman, who was arrested by the CCD under the Public Property Act for allegedly misappropriating vehicles belonging to Lanka Sathosa and Lak Sathosa during last presidential election, was ordered to be remanded till July 28 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today.

The CCD alleged that the suspect had used vehicles to distribute the names lists of the registered voters in the last presidential election to Gampaha District Organizers of SLFP causing a financial lost of Rs. 37,833 to the government.

The police said the names lists had been received from the SLFP Head Office located on Darly Road on January 2, 2015 and were distributed to the Gampaha District Organisers of SLFP on January 3 using Sathosa and Lak Sathosa vehicles on the instructions of the suspect.

Raising a legal issue Anil Silva PC who appeared for the suspect moved that the Lak Sathosa institute was not falling into the institutions fell under the Public Property Act (PPA) therefore the prosecution should separately mention the amount caused from the offence.

However, the Magistrate said that she should first observe the legal issue more whether the Lak Sathosa fell under the PPA or not and would make a decision on next date.

Forwarding an Attorney General’s Circulation to the Inspector General of Police in 2005 the counsel said according to that direction the offences amounted to below Rs. 100,000 of the Public Property Act shall charge under the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, the suspect also said that he is ready to plead guilty to the charges.

Subsequently, the Magistrate directed the Police to conclude the investigations within a week and filed a charge sheet against the suspect under the Penal Code since the suspect is ready to plead guilty.