By Shehan Chamika Silva
After considering the exceptional circumstances put forward by the defence, Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne refused to grant bail on former minister and MP Wimal Weerawansa.
The Magistrate further remanded him till April 3.
Former minister Wimal Weerawansa was arrested by the FCID on the allegation of misusing 40 state vehicles belonging to the National Engineering Corporation (NEC) and causing Rs. 90 million financial loss to the State during 2011-2014.
Earlier, second suspect, former DGM at SEC, Samantha Lokuhannadige who was arrested with Mr. Weerawansa, was released on bail by the Magistrate.
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.
According to the Prosecution, the first suspect, Werawansa had misused 40 vehicles attached to the National Engineering Corporation (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. And 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 Party 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.
However, Mr. Weerawansa had also filed a revision bail application in Colombo High Court to revise the remand order given by the Fort Magistrate.
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