Basil's 2.9 billion fraud case: Defence wants case be heard before different judge

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Observing the legal concept of right to fair trial, Colombo High Court today transferred the case, in which Basil Rajapaksa and three others were accused of a financial misappropriation of Rs 2,991 million during the distribution of roofing sheets through Divineguma Development Department, to adjudicate before a different High Court Judge.

When the case was taken up, Anil Silva PC who appeared for the defence moved that his client Basil Rajapaksa had earlier gone before Court of Appeal seeking a writ order to quash the appointment of judges to the presidential commission set by current president to inquire into the grievous financial frauds, where the sitting judge was a commissioner too. So he requested the court to transfer the case to be heard before a different Judge considering the right of the defence to have a fair trial.

Subsequently, High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga transferred the case to number one court of the Colombo High court complex.

Attorney General had indicted the suspects on five counts on criminal misappropriation under the Penal Code.

Other suspects were Director General of the Divineguma Development Department, Kithsiri Ranawaka, Deputy Director General, Bandula Thilakasiri and Secretary of the Ministry of Economics, Nihal Jayathilaka.

The case will be taken into consideration on March 29.