The Attorney General has informed court that further investigations are required into imports worth more than Rs. 500 million linked to House of Fashion owner Priyalal Bandula Peeti Jayawardena, who is currently in remand custody over alleged violations of the Customs Ordinance.
The submissions were made by Deputy Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Shanil Kularatne when the case was taken up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Oshada Migara on July 27.
The complaint alleges that the suspect committed customs fraud involving more than Rs. 1 million.
The Deputy Solicitor General told court that although the suspect had transferred money to a Chinese company, investigators had not yet identified the goods imported into Sri Lanka using those funds.
He further revealed that around 30 other Sri Lankan companies had also transferred money to the same Chinese supplier, which is the principal supplier to the suspect’s business. However, the goods allegedly imported by those companies have also not yet been identified.
Counsel appearing for the suspect sought bail, but the Magistrate ruled that, given the nature of the offences, the Magistrate’s Court had no jurisdiction to grant bail and that such an application should be made before the High Court.
Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered that the suspect be further remanded until August 6 and directed both parties to report further progress in the investigation on the next hearing date.
