Avant Garde: BC files case against Gota and 7 others

By Shehan Chamika Silva

The Bribery Commission yesterday filed a case in the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court against former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Avante Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadipathi and six others on charges of corruption under the Bribery Act

The BC said the suspects had committed the offence by permitting the Avant Garde Maritime Services to operate a floating armory supporting AGMS to earn Rs.11.4 billion causing a huge financial loss to the government.

The other six suspects are Sujatha Damayanthi, Palitha Piyasiri Fernando, Karunaratne Bandara Adhikari, Somathilaka Dissanayake, Jayanath Sirikumara Colambage and Jayantha Perera.

The case is to be taken up in Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today.

17 year-old ‘ARROW’ who hacked President’s web detained, other remanded till Sep.2

By Shehan Chamika Silva

The 17-year-old student arrested on charges of hacking into the official website of President Maithripala Sirisena, was ordered to be detained under Probation till September 2 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today.

He was ordered to be detained at Makola Children’s Home by the Magistrate.

The other 27-year-old suspect, Janith Madushanka, was remanded till September 2 by the Magistrate.

The CID filing a B Report, informed court that the suspects had entered illegally to the official website of the President president.gov.lk on August 25 and had altered the data of it committing offences that fell under Computer Offences Act.

The CID said that the President’s website was operating online with the telecom company and there were only five limited and protected entrances to enter the website.

Entering illegally to the website the hackers had demanded the President to reconsider the decision to move A/Level exam to April from August, find a solution to the University students’ issues, protect websites from another possible cyber attack or resign from the office, the CID said.

The CID said another 37 websites have been hacked by the suspects using a broad hacking network.

They said the first suspect was operating using his FB account, named as ‘Arrow.lk’ and his online hacking name was found as ARROW.

The 26 year-old suspect had associated with the teenager providing the background platform to hack into websites by creating a forum named as Yakadaya.

Meanwhile, the prosecution had recovered two IP numbers during the investigation and one number is located abroad.

The sources said that an international hacker residing in Bangladesh had also connived with the two Sri Lankan suspects in hacking the President’s website.

Brawl with Malaka: Magistrate includes Briton as a suspect

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Based on the concept that the law should be equal to everyone, Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris using the legal powers vested on a Magistrate, included the British national, who was allegedly involved in a brawl with Malaka Silva at a night club, as a suspect to the incident.

Subsequently, the suspect James Casserly was released on personal bail of Rs. 200,000 by the Magistrate.

Earlier, suspect, Malaka Silva was remanded for allegedly assaulting a British National at a Night Club on November 1, 2014.

However, there was a counter case before Court on the brawl that had taken place between the foreigner and Mr. Silva.

The counter case was filed by the police on a complaint received from the second suspect of the first case.

However, police earlier sought Attorney General's opinion to name James Casserly, who is the complainant in the first case, as a suspect to the second case.

The Magistrate considering the request made by defence counsel Asela Rekawa, who appeared for Malaka Silva, that the police had enough evidence to name James Casserly also as a suspect to the second case, the Magistrate observed that the police had not conducted their duty appropriately.

The Magistrate citing precedents and various legal provisions pertaining to the police and its powers to name someone as a suspect, observed that according to the statement given by the victim of first case Blenda, the British woman, who was assaulted during the brawl, it was clear that the James had also been involved fighting with Malaka Silva during the alleged brawl.

The Magistrate made the decision considering the section 139 of Criminal Procedure Code. He also observed that in order to uphold justice and ensure every parties’ rights according to the Constitution a magistrate has the authority to peruse into the all facts, and if their was enough evidence to name some one as suspect, a magistrate is entitle to practice his powers to name some one as suspects.

The Magistrate further advised the British national that he could go before higher court seeking relief if he is not satisfied with the decision.

Further the court also ordered the prosecution to send the extracts of the both cases to the Attorney General and obtain his opinion for further proceedings.

The two cases postponed for December 8.

Businessman’s killing: Travel ban on five persons

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris issued a travel ban order on five individuals, who are alleged to have been involved in the abduction of the Bambalapitiya businessman whose body was found in Mawanella recently.

The CCD filing a motion in Court sought court permission to impose a travel ban on the five individuals who are residents in the Wellawatte and Dematagoda areas.

The CCD also obtained a court order to send blood samples recovered at the scene where the crime had taken place to the Gintech institute to compare DNA samples with the victims father's blood.

The prosecution informed court that it had initiated a broad investigation over phone calls received from the suspects prior to the incident.

Thajudeen Murder: Phone details received from top offices deleted

By Shehan Chamika Silva

The CID informed court that details pertaining to the phone calls received from Presidential Secretariat and Temple Trees to Narahenpita OIC Damien Perera on the day Wasim Thajudeen was found dead, had been deleted from the Presidential Secretariat records.

According to the statements recorded from officials attached to the Presidential Secretariat, the CID had revealed that the officials who were responsible with phone call connections and protecting memories of them had deleted all the data relating to the incident and had resigned from their positions as well.

The CID informed court that it had initiated a broad investigation to apprehend individuals, who had deleted the data and resigned from their positions.

The prosecution also informed that they had recovered the CPU relating to the calls in which the memories of phone details were stored and expecting to investigate on it.

The information was revealed by the CID according to the statements given by the two officials attached to the Presidential Secretariat.

Meanwhile, the Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris directed the Senior State Counsel to report to court what is the stance of the Attorney General over the suspect Ex-SDIG's admission to the paying ward, since the suspect was being permitted to be treated at paying wards at the Colombo National Hospital.

Earlier on August 22, the Director of CNH submitting a report on as to why ex-SDIG was being treated at a paying ward, informed the Magistrate as a personal opinion, that the Prisons Authority and certain Authorities should not allow suspects being treated at Merchant Ward of the CNH.

The prosecution held that the suspects, former SDIG Anura Senanayake and former Narahenpita Crimes OIC Sumith Perera were charged under Sections 113 (Conspiracy) and 32 (Liability for act done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), of the Penal Code.

And according to the provision in Section 13 of the Bail Act, a person having committed an offence punishable with death or with life imprisonment, shall not be released on bail except by a Judge of the High Court, said prosecution.

They were arrested by the CID over the charges under Sections 113 (Conspiracy) and 32 (Liability for act done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), of the Penal Code in connection with the murder of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen.

However, considering that the suspects had already filed revision bail applications in the High Court, the Magistrate re-remanded the suspects till September 7.

The former SDIG and the former Crimes OIC also have charges of causing disappearance of evidence, fabricating false evidence, touching it to screen the offender and conspiring under Clauses of 189,198 and 296 of the Penal Code.

Kithsiri Ranawaka remanded till Sep. 6

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Former Director of Tourism Development Authority, Kithsiri Ranawaka, who was arrested by the FCID over allocating authority’s funds amounting to Rs. 5.7 million to an election promoting campaign during the Uva Provincial Council Election in 2014, was remanded till September 6 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.

The FCID alleged that the money was earlier reserved with the authorisation of the Director Board, in which the suspect was a member, to a project of protecting historical places in Sri Lanka in expectation of promoting tourism industry. However, the allocated money was not used for such tourism promotional project.

The prosecution said according to the statements recorded from witnesses in authority, it had been revealed that the money was used for the SLFP election propaganda campaigns in the Uva Province.

The prosecution charged the suspect under the Public Property Act and Penal Code over committing Criminal Breach of Trust.

FCID launches probe on allegations of fraud at SLC

By Shehan Chamika Silva

The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) informed Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court that it had initiated a broad investigation into the alleged financial misappropriation reported to have taken place at the Sri Lanka Cricket Board from 2010.

It said the investigations were launched on a complaint made the parliamentary Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman and MP Sunil Handunetti.

He urged the FCID to probe the allegations of fraud at the SLC with the involvement of former minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, former SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga and former interim committee members: D. S. de Silva, Sujeewa Rajapaksa, Kalinga Indatissa, Asantha Seneviratne and Prabath Fonseka.

Nine cases filed against Sarana fixed for trial

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Nine cases filed against Sarana Gunawardena a former chairman of the Development Lotteries Board on charges of misappropriating state funds when obtaining vehicles on rent for the National Lotteries Board, were fixed for trial on December 6.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Aruni Attygalle fixed the trial following the amendments made by the Bribery Commission on two cases.

The prosecution sought the court to fix the trials of all cases in December since several officials who conducted the inquiry were currently abroad.

The suspect was accused under 30 counts in the nine cases under Section 70 of the Bribery Act.

Thajudeen murder: Fmr. JMO files anticipatory bail

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Having considered the anticipatory bail application filed by Colombo's former chief judicial medical Officer Dr. Ananda Samarasekera in anticipation of being named or accused in connection with Wasim Thajudeen's missing body parts, Colombo Additional Magistrate Aruni Attygalle noticed the CID Homicide Division OIC to appear in Court on August 30.

Dr. Samarasekara filed a petition against the imminent infringement of his fundamental rights in relation to the ongoing investigation into the Thajudeen's death.

An anticipatory bail application can be filed by an individual seeking bail in anticipation or in expectation of being named or accused of having committed a non-bailable offense.

In the application, the complainant cited the OIC as respondent.

Hello Corp inquiry: Namal released on strict bail conditions

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, Sudarshana Bandara Ganegoda and Nithya Senani Samaranayake, who were arrested by the FCID into the two cases conducted against them under the Money Laundering Act, were today released on bail by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris.

Suspects were accused over alleged two transactions worth Rs. 45 million, which had discovered during the main inquiry conducted against them into the alleged purchasing Rs. 100 million worth shares of a company called Hello Corp from alleged ill-gotten funds by the Gowers Corporation which is headed by Mr. Rajapaksa.

They were released on cash bail of Rs. 100,000 with four sureties of Rs. ten million each for every suspect.

The Magistrate imposing strict bail conditions, ordered the suspects to produce sureties with appropriate documents to prove their assets to represent suspects. And directed to report FCID on first and last Sundays in every month.

The Magistrate also advised the suspects that their bail conditions would be annulled and could be remanded until the case is over if they would interfere with witnesses inappropriately or hamper the investigation.

Filing a further report in court FCID told that it had recorded statements from the three suspects and extracts of the inquiry have been sent to the Attorney General for his attention.

The prosecution rejecting suspects being released on bail said that they have a suspicion of one Ahamad Al Saman, who is a wanted witness and missing now over the inquiry had been affected by the first suspect, Namal Rajapaksa.

Appearing for the suspects, Jayantha Weerasinghe PC filing a bail application ascertained that even though the offenses regarded as non bailable under the Money Laundering Act, section 7 of the Bail Act provides the Magistrate to consider on bail based on court's discretion over the matter.

Thereby he said according to section 14 of Bail Act his clients had not involved in any actions that can be regarded in refusing bail.

Presenting number of precedents pertaining to the inquiry, he said merely having a suspicion that a possibility of witnesses being affected is not sufficient to reject bail on suspects.

Considering the defence counsel's submission and relevant legal provisions in granting bail, the Magistrate observed that the court can’t see any grounds to refuse bail.

Appearing for the suspect of the inquiry, Sujani Bogollagama, who is currently being treated at Colombo National Hospital, Counsel Jeewantha Jayathilake said his client had undergone a surgery and there was no any falsification or manufacturered illness as FCID suggested earlier.

The Magistrate however directed the prosecution that court would not deliver any orders of preventing Sujani Bogollagama being arrested therefore to take appropriate steps accordingly.

Earlier, the prosecution had filed two separate cases against the suspects over the two suspicious Rs. 15 million and Rs. 30 million transactions.

According to the FCID, the suspect Namal Rajapaksa had dealt with a company called 'Boston Capital' and given Rs. 15 million by himself and another Rs. 30 million through one Indika Karunajeewa to the chairman of that company, Mr. Rohan Abey Iriyagolla, in order to conceal the origin of the alleged ill gotten funds.

The prosecution alleged that according to the statements got from the chairman of the Boston Company, the given money was paid to Gowers Corporation and NR Consultancy Companies again, which are headed by Namal Rajapaksa, under the disguise of payments for the services obtained by the Boston Company.

The two transactions were found by the prosecution as offences that fell under the Money Laundering Act. The other suspects, Indika Prabath Karunajeewa, Pavithra Sujani Bogollagama, and Iresha Silva were earlier named as suspects by the FCID over conspiring to commit the offences that fell under the Money Laundering and Penal Code and yet to be arrested.

The case was postponed for September 1.

Hello Corp inquiry: International warrant on Iresha Silva

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today issued an arrest warrant through Interpol on Oranella Iresha Silva, who is a suspect in the inquiry conducted under the Money Laundering Act for purchasing Rs. 100 mn worth shares of a company called Hellocorp, using allegedly ill-gotten funds by the Gowers Corporation headed by Namal Rajapaksa.

According to the FCID, the suspect resides abroad absconding prosecution.

There were three suspects, Namal Rajapaksa, Sudarshana Bandara and Nithya Senani, already in remand custody over the inquiry.

According to the FCID, the suspect Namal Rajapaksa had dealt with a company called 'Boston Capital' and given Rs. 15 million by himself and another Rs. 30 million through one Indika Karunajeewa to the chairman of that company, Mr. Rohan Abey Iriyagolla, in order to conceal the origin of the alleged ill gotten funds.

The prosecution alleged that according to the statements got from the chairman of the Boston Company, the given money was paid to Gowers Corporation and NR Consultancy Companies again, which are headed by Namal Rajapaksa, under the disguise of payments for the services obtained by the Boston Company.

The two transactions were found by the prosecution as offences that fell under the Money Laundering Act.

Hello Corp inquiry: Court orders report on Sujani Bogollagama’s admission to paying ward

By Shehan Chamika Silva

The Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris ordered Chief JMO of the Colombo National Hospital to submit a comprehensive report over Sujani Bogollagama, who is a suspect in the inquiry conducted under the Money Laundering Act for purchasing Rs. 100 mn worth shares of a company called Hellocorp, using allegedly ill-gotten funds by the Gowers Corporation headed by Namal Rajapaksa.

She was currently being treated at Colombo National Hospital. The Magistrate called the report in Court on August 22.

The Magistrate made the directive acceding to the FCID officials' request of that the suspect had been admitted to the hospital prior to the summoning of FCID and now being treated at the CNH in paying ward, deceiving prosecution and avoiding arrest.

The FCID said that the suspect admitted to a private Hospital on August 14 and later transferred into the merchant ward of Colombo National Hospital on August 17.

Former JMO files anticipatory bail application

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Colombo's former chief judicial medical officer Ananda Samarasekera today filed an anticipatory bail application in Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court requesting to get bail in expectation of being named or accused over alleged missing body parts of late Wasim Thajudeen.

He had also yesterday filed a fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court against the imminent infringement of his fundamental rights in relation to the ongoing investigation into the death of late Mr. Wasim Thajudeen.

An anticipatory bail application can be filed by an individual seeking bail in anticipation or in expectation of being named or accused of having committed a non-bailable offense.

In the application, the complainant, Dr Ananda Samarasekara had cited the defence as OIC of the Crime Investigation Department.

Court allows CID to take CCTV footage to Canadian Lab

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today permitted CID officials to handover the CCTV footage obtained from the site of Wasim Thajudeen's death to be checked at the laboratory of the British Columbia Institute in Canada.

More than ten CDs are to be sent for further clarification.

Some CID officers will leave for Canada on August 22 with the CCTV footage which were obtained from cameras installed at the Narahenpita-Baseline Road Junction.

Namal remanded till August 22

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and Sudarshana Bandara who were arrested by the FCID today over the inquiry conducted under the Money Laundering Act for purchasing Rs. 100 million worth shares of a company called Hello Corp from alleged ill-gotten funds by Gowers Corporation which is headed by Mr. Rajapaksa, was remanded till August 22 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.

Producing the suspects in court, the prosecution filing two separate B reports informed court about the two suspicious Rs. 15 million and Rs. 30 million transactions on the instructions of the Attorney General.

According to the FCID, the suspect Namal Rajapaksa had dealt with a company called 'Boston Capital' and given Rs. 15 million by himself and another Rs. 30 million through one Indika Karunajeewa to the chairman of that company, Mr. Rohan Abey Iriyagolla, in order to conceal the origin of the alleged ill gotten funds.

The prosecution alleged that according to the statements got from the chairman of the Boston Company, the given money was paid to Gowers Corporation and NR Consultancy Companies again, which are headed by Namal Rajapaksa, under the disguise of payments for the services obtained by the Boston Company.

The two transactions were found by the prosecution as offences that fell under the Money Laundering Act. The other suspects, Indika Prabath Karunajeewa, Pavithra Sujani Bogollagama, Nithya Senani Samaranayake, Sudarsha Bandara Ganegoda and Iresha Silva were earlier named as suspects by the FCID over conspiring to commit the offences that fell under the Money Laundering and Penal Code.

 The prosecution held that it had initiated a broad investigation to apprehend the most wanted suspect, Indika Karunajeewa, who resides abroad by absconding the prosecution.

They also said that the main witness of the inquiry Bangladesh national, Abdul Al Saman was also missing since the investigation started. The FCID requested court to remand the suspects on the possibility of some of the witnesses being affected by the suspects.

The defence counsel filing a bail application moved that the suspects would not interfere with the witnesses or the investigation. They also questioned the integrity of the witness Iriyagolla, who is the owner of the Boston Capital, comparing the contradictory statements given by him to the FCID.

Considering the prosecution request over the possible interference with the witnesses by the suspects, the Magistrate remanded the suspects and directed the police to expedite the investigation.

Musammil gets bail on exceptional circumstance

By Shehan Chamika Silva

National Freedom Front Spokesman Mohammed Muzammil, was ordered to be released on bail by the Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne over the inquiry conducted against him for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 6.1 million public funds by misusing a vehicle attached to the Presidential Secretariat between 2009-2014.

The magistrate released the suspect on cash bail of Rs. 25,000 with two sureties of Rs. one million each.

Considering the exceptional circumstance of illness of the suspect's child based on the doctor’s reports, the magistrate granted bail for the suspect.

The FCID filed charges under the section 5(1), ‘Dishonest Misappropriation, Criminal Breach of Trust, Cheating, Forgery and Falsification of Accounts’ of the Public Property Act and the Section 3, that ‘Any transaction derived from illegal activity’, of the Money Laundering Act.

The suspect was also charged with the misappropriation of property, abatement, criminal breach of trust and cheating under the Sections 100, 386, 389 and 400 of the Penal Code.

The prosecution said the suspect was given a vehicle from the Presidential Secretariat in 2009 under the previous government and following his defeat in 2010 parliamentary elections he was appointed as an Acting Director of the Sri Lanka Engineering Corporation.

The Police said the suspect had not returned the vehicle, he obtained from Presidential Secretariat in 2010 and deceived the Engineering Corporation by stating that the vehicle he obtained from the Presidential Secretariat was his private vehicle and on this basis was re-imbursed his traveling expenses by the Engineering Cooperation. The Police told the money had been deposited under the name of the suspect’s wife.

Former JMO responsible over missing body parts of Thajudeen during first autopsy: Ministry of Health says

By Shehan chamika Sila

Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and indigenous Medicine, Anura Jayawickrama, informed court that according to the inquiry conducted by the Ministry; the former Chief Judicial Medical Officer, Ananda Samarasekara had acted irresponsibly while conducting the first autopsy on the Wasim Thajudeen by not taking appropriate steps to protect body parts of the victim.

According to the inquiry conducted by the Emergency Raids Unit of the Ministry, the Secretary confirmed that the former JMO was responsible for the missing body parts of the victim.

The inquiry was carried out upon a court order to investigate over the missing body parts of the Wasim Thajudeen during the first autopsy.

Thajudeen was murdered on May 17, 2012 under the disguise of a fatal accident.

The secratary further informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris that the former JMO had retired officially from his position in June, 2013 and continued to serve as the JMO until the current JMO Ajith Thennakoon, therefore to direct the CID to carry further legal actions against Mr. Samarasekara.

Thajudeen murder: Magistrate wants report over admitting ex-SDIG at CNH

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Over the inquiry into the murder of Wasim Thajudeen, Colombo additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris ordered prosecution to obtain a comprehensive report from Director of Colombo National Hospital and Prison Superintendent over the admission of the second suspect ex-SDIG, Anura Senanayake to the paying ward of the Colombo National Hospital without providing treatments to him from the Prison Hospital.

The magistrate gave the direction observing the request made by the aggrieved party counsel, Misba Sathar.

Observing that the a suspect in remand custody has equal right to get treatments for his medical condition, the Magistrate said the suspect can be only allowed to be admitted to the National Hospital  if treatments in Prison Hospital was insufficient due to insufficient for his condition.

Defence Counsel who appeared for the second suspect requested court to allow his client to attend his daughter's convocation under the supervision of Prison Authority.

Objecting to the request, Senior State Counsel who appeared for the Attorney General said the suspect has no special privileges to ask such requests from court and that he is an accused in a murder case for fabricating false evidence.

All suspects in remand custody have equal rights, and this was unprecedented therefore should be rejected the request, said State Counsel.

The Magistrate rejecting the defence request ascertained that attending to a convocation cannot be regarded as an exceptional circumstance and that no such suspect in remand custody is allowed to request such permission from court based on the legal concept of "no one is guilty until proven", since the suspect has allegations over a murder inquiry.

And the Magistrate advised the defence to watch the full convocation in a recorded version later using modern day technology.

Filing a further report in court, Senior State Counsel told court that the investigation carried out to peruse information from the phone conversations of the Presidential Office were successful.

He also said the individual, Chaminda Jayaprakash, who has been with the Victim Wasim Thajudeen on the incident day had received suspicious calls from six phone numbers and that the CID had initiated a sensitive investigation into those Phone conversations.

Over the inquiry conducted by the Sri Lanka Medical Council against Former JMO Ananda Samarasekara and two others on the allegation of missing body parts of the victim, the counsel appearing on behalf of the SLMC told the court that the suspects' written objections were rejected by the Council and further inquiry was fixed for august 27.

The prosecution held that the suspects were charged under Sections 113 (conspiracy) and 32 (Liability for act done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), of the Penal Code and according to the provision in Section 13 of the Bail Act, a person suspected or accused of being concerned in committing or having committed an offence punishable with death or with life imprisonment, shall not be released on Bail except by a Judge of the High Court.

Former SDIG Anura senanyake and former Narahenpita Crimes OIC Sumith perera were ordered to be further remanded till August 24 by the Colombo additional magistrate Nishantha Peoris today over the inquiry conducted into the killing of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen.

The former SDIG and the former Crimes OIC also have charges of causing disappearance of evidence, fabricating false evidence, touching it to screen the offender and conspiring under Clauses of 189,198 and 296 of the Penal Code.

The defence counsel also informed Court that the two suspects had already filed revision bail applications in Colombo High Court seeking bail over the magisterial inquiry.

FCID over fraud occurred restructuring Ambilipitiya Paper Factory

By Shehan Chamika Silva

The FCID today informed court that it had initiated a broad investigation into the alleged financial misappropriation reported at Ambilipitiya Paper Manufacturing Factory during the re- structuring the factory.

Based on a complaint received to the Anti Corruption Committee the FCID informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris that it had recorded statements from few officials of the   Factory over the alleged financial fraud.

According to the statements of the officials, the alleged financial misappropriation was occurred during the re-structuring of the Factory on November 15, 2011.

CID produced Welesuda’s mother, wife and four others over money laundering case

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Another six suspects, including mother and wife of ‘Welesuda’, were produced in courts today over the money laundering inquiry conducted against Welesuda and seven others by the CID.

The Colombo additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris considering the defence counsel request granted bail on four suspects, Chandima Dilhani, Ruwanthika Lakmani Silva, Kankanamge Gnanawathi (mother), Gayani Priyadarshani (Wife).

Other two suspects, Suranga Sampath and Liyanage Sumith were ordered to be remanded till August 11 by the Magistrate.

The magistrate released the four suspects on cash bail of Rs. 10,000 with two sureties worth Rs. 5 million each.

Earlier, the CID had arrested Samantha Kumara alias ‘Wele Suda’ and seven others over the inquiry conducted under the Money Laundering Act.

Nishantha Ranathunga seeks HC permission to travel abroad

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Former Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, Nishantha Ranathunga, who is the second suspect of the inquiry conducted at the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court over financial misappropriation, reported at CSN and SL Cricket, today sought Colombo High Court permission to travel abroad for a special conference in UAE.

The suspect sought court permission to travel abroad from September 30 to October 2.

The Judge MCBS Morais considering the request fixed tomorrow for the decision.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Nishantha Ranthunga and three others were suspects of the inquiry.

FCID probes over Motor Traffic Commissioner General's activities

By Shehan chamika silva

FCID informed court that based on a complaint received from the Former IGP; it had initiated an inquiry over Motor Traffic Commissioner General for illegally acquiring public funds by misappropriating his position involving in fraudulent activities at Motor Traffic Department.

The Complainant had lodged the allegation with FCID on December 4, 2015 based on a News article published on a website, which had reported anonymously over the fraudulent activities conducted at MTD by the Commissioner General over abusing his position.

The FCID unit number one OIC, Sunil Priyantha today informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris over the incident and that the investigation was being conducted under the Public Property and Money Laundering Acts.

Investigation on Krrish Company -- Another questionable transaction of Rs.40 Mn revealed

By Shehan Chamika Silva

The FCID today told court that during its investigations into the alleged transactions carried out by the "Krrish" company, the prosecution had revealed that the company had been involved in another questionable transaction of Rs.40 million to buy a property in Puttalam.

The FCID said the property had been sold to the company on a forged deed by four individuals who had been identified as, Nalaka Godahewa (former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission), Dinusha Peiris, Ashraff Bathiudeen and Sumith Rohitha Perera and that investigations were ongoing.

This deal was revealed when the FCID investigated a complaint made by JVP provincial councillor Wasantha Samarasinghe earlier.

Meanwhile, the FCID said based on a statement given by the Sujani Bogollagama, the accountant for Carlton Super Sports Ltd., where MP Namal Rajapaksa was charged with misappropriating Rs.70 million given to him by the Krrish company to conduct a rugby tournament, two others identified as Roni Ibrahim and Rukshan Fernando were summoned by the FCID to record their statements.

On the special facts revealed from the Sujani Bogollagama in the interrogation, Roni Ibrahim and Rukashan Fernando had the awareness as to how the given alleged money was spent by the CSS ltd, Prosecution said.

The FCID told Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne that said the investigation report as been sent to the Attorney General for his opinion. The case was fixed for October 31.

The main suspect, Mr. rajapaksa was earlier remanded over the charges under sections 386,389 and 400, “Dishonest misappropriation, Criminal breach of trust, Cheating”, of the Penal Code and under the Money Laundering Act.

According to the FCID, Mr. Rajapaksa had connections to the Board of Directors of the Krish company.

The money was said to have been deposited into an account belonging to Ceylon Premier Sports Chairman Nimal Perera and later the money was paid out to Mr. Rajapaksa.

According to Defence lawyers, the tournament was organized by the Ceylon Premier Sports (CPS) and the Ceylon Super Sports (CSS). CPS was dealing with all the ten teams while the CSS was handling the event.

The FCID believes that Mr. Rajapaksa had transferred Rs.50 million to the account of a Bangladeshi known as Al Saman. Later Mr. Rajapaksa had got it back from Al Saman and obtained another Rs.50 million from a bank as a loan to purchase the company Hello Corp committing a crime that comes under the Money Laundering Act.

Thajudeen murder: Narahenpita ex-OIC received calls from Presidential Secretariat: CID reveals in court

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Senior State Counsel Dilan Rathnayake today told Court that according to the information revealed from the phone details of Former OIC of the Narahenpita Police Damian Perera, in connection with the murder of the killing of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen, the CID had recovered that there were phone calls received from the Presidential Secretariat on the day the incident happened (May 17, 2012).

He also said based on the revealed facts, a sensitive investigation was being carried out by the CID
into the phone conversations received from the Secretariat.

Filing a further report, the CID informed court that the former Narahenpita OIC had received phone calls from three certain numbers, which were registered under the name of the Presidential
Secretariat.

The CID said on two occasions that it had requested further details over the alleged three numbers
from the President's Secretary but yet to receive assistance from the PS office.

The prosecution held that the suspects were charged under Sections 113 (Conspiracy) and 32 (Liability for act done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), of the Penal Code and according to the provision in Section 13 of the Bail Act, a person suspected or accused of being concerned in committing or having committed an offence punishable with death or with life imprisonment, shall not be released on bail except by a Judge of the High Court.

The Prosecution also informed court that the two suspects who were arrested in connection with the inquiry into the killing of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen had now filed revision applications in Colombo High Court seeking bail.

Subsequently, the Colombo Additional Magistrate Mohammad Mihar re-remanded the suspects, former SDIG Anura Senanayake and Former Narahenpita Crimes OIC Sumith Perera, till August 10.

The former SDIG and the former Crimes OIC were also charged of causing disappearance of evidence, fabricating false evidence, touching it to screen the offender and conspiring under Clauses of 189,198 and 296 of the Penal Code.