Thursday 5 January 2017

Shahi Welgama re-remanded over SLTB fraud case

By Shehan Chamika Silva 

Former SLTB chairman, Shashi Welgama and one time spare parts supplier to the SLTB, Nandana Priyantha who were arrested by the CID in connection with Rs.125 million misappropriation taken place at SLTB, were ordered to be further remanded till January 19 by Colombo Additional Magistrate J. Trosky today.

Earlier, former Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris refused to grant bail on exceptional circumstances to the suspects.

However, Defence counsel Kalinga Indatissa today submitted a bail application again before the newly appointed Colombo Additional Magistrate Jeyaram Trosky.

And the Magistrate directed the defence to tender the bail application in writing and also directed the prosecution to submit their stance on next date.

According to the prosecution the first suspect, Nandana Priyantha who was a supplier to the SLTB had  been given tenders respectively in 2010 and 2012 to supply spare parts to the SLTB.  However, he had allegedly not supplied spare parts equally to the advance payments made to him by the SLTB. The CID alleged that the first suspect had submitting forged documents in three occassions had requested SLTB officials to permit his payments according to the procurement procedures fraudulently.

The prosecution said the second suspect, Shashi Welgama as the then chairman of SLTB had fraudulently recommended the forged documents provided by the supplier to the Finance Department of the SLTB by approving them fraudulently.

The CID arrested the suspects on charges under the Penal Code and the Public Property Act over Criminal misappropriation, breach of trust and the misuse of state funds.

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