Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage who was arrested by the CID over money laundering charges in connection with the purchase of a property worth Rs. 27 million in Colombo 7, was ordered to be remanded till September 22 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris.
On a complaint received from JVP councilor Wasantha Samarasinghe, the CID initiated a broad investigation on the alleged illegal acquisitions of the suspect and they had conducted an inquiry into six alleged purchases of properties by the suspect.
The prosecution alleged that the suspect was arrested over the purchase of a property located on Kynsey Road, Colombo 7.
The suspect had used the 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 acquisitions 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 according to the complaint, the CID was conducting a broad investigation over the alleged properties belonging to the suspect in abroad as well.
The CID filed charges against the suspect under section 389 of the penal code and sections 3 and 4 of the Money Laundering Act.
Appearing on behalf of the suspect, Kalinga Indatissa PC told court that according to the section 14 of the Bail Act, there was no ground to refuse bail for his client, because neither the suspect had interfered with the witnesses at any time during the inquiry nor he had hampered the investigation.
He requested bail on the basis that there were more than 150 statements recorded from the witnesses and the suspect had also provided statements every time the prosecution had summoned him.
Before delivering the order the Magistrate considered the both the Defence Counsel's submission and the B report filed by the prosecution in Court.
The Magistrate Peiris observed the Constitution, precedents, section 115 (Procedure when investigation cannot be completed in twenty-four hours) of the Criminal Procedure Code and section 14(1) a (2) (obstruct the course of justice) of the Bail Act before remanding the suspect.
Instructing the prosecution to expedite the investigation, the magistrate said, even though a magistrate has a judicial power to remand the suspect for a 15 days period on such cases according to law, the suspect would be remanded for a seven days period. He also instructed the prosecution to expedite the investigation.
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