Wimal Weerawansa remanded

By Shehan Chamika Silva 

Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa and one other who were arrested by the FCID on charges of misusing 40 state vehicles belonging to the National Engineering Corporation (NEC), causing Rs. 90 million financial loss to the state during 2011-2014, were remanded till January 24 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today.

The FCID inquired the allegations upon a complaint received by the former Charman of the NEC and based on the audit report made by the internal inspection of the NEC in 2014. Other suspect, Samantha Lokuhennadige, was the former Deputy General Manager of the NEC.

According to the prosecution, the first suspect, Werawansa had misused 40 vehicles attached to the NEC by using them for his private and political activities in the disguise of using them for the ‘Janasevana’ Housing Construction Project.

The FCID said that the so-called vehicles were taken by the NEC on the leasing basis for their various mechanisms in the Corporation. The former Minister had both orally and in writing instructed inappropriately certain authorities of the NEC to release vehicles to his cousins, members of the National Freedom Front (NFF) and some other persons who were not permitted to use such vehicles.

The FCID leveled the allegations against him under section 386 (Criminal Misappropriation) of the Penal Code and section 5(1) of the Public Property Act, where if the misuse is above Rs.25, 000 bail is not applicable unless exceptional circumstances or a High Court Judge.

Appearing for the suspects, Jayantha Weerasinghe PC and Shavendra Fernando PC moved bail applications for the suspects on the grounds that the material facts put forward by the prosecution do not prove any converted financial benefit gained by Mr. Weerawansa when instructing authorities to release such vehicles to his ministry.

They also moved an exceptional circumstance that there was a technical error in the certificate filed in court by the prosecution in respect of the Public Property Act.

Defence further moved the health condition of the daughter of Mr. Weerawansa as an exceptional circumstance because she was suffering a huge depression due to the death of a boy at her house and the insecurity she feels about her father.

They also informed the court that the chairman who served at NEC in 2011 was also accountable for the so called allegations, but he was not arrested for any reason because of political revenge taking place for selected people.

Considering the submissions made by the both prosecution and the Defence the Magistrate fixed January 24 to deliver the court decision on granting bail on suspects on exceptional circumstances.