The owner of the Southland Auto Trading Center a leading auto mobile business in Sri Lanka was yesterday released on bail after being appeared before court for allegedly cheating businessman Surendra Wasantha Perera alias Karaoke Wasantha of a Range Rover jeep valued at Rs.17.5 million.

The owner of the auto mobile business J.M. Premaratne was ordered to be released on two sureties of one million rupees by Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage after being undertaken to pay back a sum of Rs.17.5 million or hand over the documents pertaining to the vehicle to the businessman Wasantha Perera.

 Making a complaint with Colpitty polce, businessman Wasantha Perera who owns several karoake bars in Colombo alleged that the documents pertaining to the vehicle which he purchased from J.M. Premaratne were not released to him. However, the suspect told court that he would agree for a settlement to pay back the money or return the documents withing a period of two weeks.

The magistrate observed that he would not hesitate to cancel the bail bond and remand suspect unless he paid money back to the complainant. It transpired court that the suspect had sold a vehicle to the businessman while its documents were held under a leasing company.