Mahindananda Aluthgamage who was in remand custody over
money laundering charges over purchasing a property worth Rs. 27 Million in Colombo
7, was today released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.
He was released on cash bail of Rs. 50,000 with four
sureties of Rs. 10 million each.
On a complaint received from JVP councilor Wasantha
Samarasinghe, the CID had initiated a broad
investigation on six alleged purchases of properties by the suspect over the
first case on money laundering charges.
The prosecution alleged that the suspect was arrested over
purchase of a property located on Kingsley Road
Colombo 7.
The suspect had used money from his bank account at Bank of
Ceylon Parliament branch to purchase the Rs. 27 million worth property on February 26, 2013.
The CID told court the
money had been derived from illegal acquisition to the so-called bank account
in 2013 through three cheques deposited by Douglas Kahawage (a person attached
to the liberal Labour Congress Sri Lanka), Siril Jayasinghe (government
Contractor) and Wasantha Rajapaksa (suspect's driver).
Filing a B report in court the prosecution also informed
court that the CID was conducting a broad investigation over the alleged
properties belonging to the suspect in abroad as well.
The CID also informed
that they were investigating into the irregularities taken place in Sports
Ministry over 51 constructions and the money derived to him from alleged
contractors when the suspect was serving as the Sports Minister.
The prosecution said that there was a property in London
belonging to the suspect which was purchased from the money (Rs. 25 million)
given to him by his brother in Japan, but the so-called transactions were not
yet found during the investigation.
The CID filed charges
against the suspect under section 389 of penal code and sections 3 and 4 of the
Money Laundering Act.
Meanwhile, former minister and one other, who were noticed
to appear in Court over a case filed by the Bribery commission in connection
with a Rs. 53 million misappropriation taken place while importing and
distributing sports equipment to schools and sports clubs in 2014, were also
released on bail today.
Chief Magistrate released them over that case on a cash bail
of Rs. 100,000 with two sureties of Rs. 5 million each for every suspect.
The case was filed by the bribery commission over corruption
charges under the section 70 of the Bribery Act.
The prosecution alleged that the suspects had committed the
offence while importing and distributing 14,000 Carom Boards and 11,000 checker
boards.
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