Mount Lavinia Magistrate A.D. Chathurika De Silva strongly reprimanded the Colombo Fraud Bureau (CFB) for sending extracts of the case involving Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe to the Attorney General (AG) before completing its investigation, The Sunday Times reported.
The case concerns the alleged fraudulent lease of a building belonging to the National Workers’ Institute for Rs. 3.6 million by individuals, including Samarasinghe, who are accused of posing as officials of the National Workers’ Congress.
The magistrate questioned the haste in forwarding the file, warning that sending incomplete documents could delay proceedings. She directed the CFB to seek the AG’s advice only after concluding the investigation.
Police, in a further report to court on Friday, said that statements had now been recorded from all parties connected to the incident. Minister Samarasinghe gave a statement at the Fraud Bureau on August 21, while Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe and Kaduwela Mayor Ranjan Jayalal had been questioned earlier on August 14.
When asked if the building in question belonged to Samarasinghe, police responded in the negative. They noted that Samarasinghe had told investigators he acted as the lessee based on a decision taken at the union’s 2020 general meeting, and that funds from the lease were used for union activities.
Appearing for the aggrieved party—the lawful office bearers and the trust—President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, assisted by Attorney-at-Law Kisal Senanayake, alleged that the file was deliberately sent to the AG to delay the probe. He argued that police had already reported facts to court establishing a crime and that the court had previously ordered the immediate arrest and production of the suspects. Instead, he charged, the police were shifting their stance.
Gunaratne further contended that Samarasinghe had committed a crime by fraudulently claiming to be an official of the union and leasing out the property while a lawful set of office bearers was in place.
Magistrate De Silva postponed ruling on the request by the aggrieved party to name Samarasinghe and others as suspects until September 26, noting that she is due to be transferred and that her successor will issue the order. She also stressed that no external pressure had been brought to bear in relation to the case. (Courtesy: Sunday Times)
