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$800,000 received by Nimal Perera related to Namal’s money laundering case

20 February 2020 09:07 am - 20     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Thusith Mudalige yesterday revealed that the Singapore bank account belonging to former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena’s wife had a record of sending USD 800,000 to an individual by the name of Nimal Hemasiri Perera in November 2014, after the alleged USD 2 million commission was received from the French AIRBUS Company in connection with the 14 Airbuses purchase in 2013.

When questioned by Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake, it was revealed that Nimal Hemasiri Perera's name was mentioned in another similar money laundering case at the Fort Magistrate where the main suspect is MP Namal Rajapaksa (Case No: B 195/16). Furthermore, the DSG informed that extracts of this case had been sent to the Attorney General's Department expecting further investigations into the AIRBUS case. However, the DSG was of the view that the response of the police in probing this case was not satisfactory.

“We are not supposed to advise the CID to do everything. We have informed the CID to investigate into this money laundering case, but there is no action taken so far,” the DSG stated. In 2013, SriLankan Airlines was supposed to purchase 14 Airbuses from a company called AIRBUS in France of which the mother company was EADS. During this transaction, the second suspect, Priyanka Wijenayake (wife of the SriLankan Airlines CEO) had allegedly formed a company called ‘BIZ SOLUTION’ in Brunei under her name. The accounts of this company were maintained in a Singaporean bank. According to the investigation, on December 27, 2013, BIZ SOLUTION’s Singaporean bank account had received a sum of USD 2 million from mother company EADS. According to bank records of BIZ SOLUTION, there had been two remittances on November 19 and December 22, 2014 to a bank account named SABRE VISION LTD registered in British Virgin Island. This bank account belonged to Wannakawattawaduge Don Nimal Hemasiri Perera whose name was mentioned in the money laundering case in which MP Rajapaksa is the main suspect,” the DSG said. Subsequently, on the request of the prosecution, the Fort Magistrate imposed a travel ban on Nimal Perera.

At the onset of yesterday’s inquiry, DSG Mudalige exposed another receipt of EURO 160,000 by local company ‘SL AGRO.’ He said, so far, two directors had been identified as managing this company.

The DSG at this point informed the court that the CID had failed to probe this transaction deftly as it had not obtained court orders to peruse bank details relating to this alleged receipt of EURO 160,000. He said some flaws had been noticed by the AG even when the CID summoned the two directors to record statements. The CID told it only recorded statements from one director who had given street name ‘Gregory Road’ in Colombo 7 as whereabouts of the other who happens to be one of his brothers.

Defence counsel Nalin Ladduwahetti PC and Anuja Premaratne PC who appeared for the suspects criticised the behaviour of the CID saying it was absurd how the CID allowed the individual concerned to walk away by only recording a street name as the residence of his own brother.

However, the magistrate later gave certain orders by allowing the CID to get details from several private banks. At this moment, the Fort Magistrate questioned the CID regarding the conduct of the investigation. Excerpts:

Magistrate: Do you (CID) have any trouble or difficulty conducting this investigation?

CID: (Silent)

Magistrate: If you have any trouble, please inform the court

CID: (Silent)

Magistrate: The Attorney General has provided certain instructions to the CID but they had not been complied with properly. So my question is, why do the police always inform the court that they need to obtain AG’s advice in cases if they do not comply with them?

CID: (Silent)

Magistrate: How can you question a person over the receipts of alleged money without obtaining bank details?

CID: (Silent)

Magistrate: I am asking this again, do you have any problem conducting the investigation?

CID: No your honour. We will try to finish the investigation as soon as possible.

Magistrate: The investigation needs to find the truth behind these transactions. Merely receiving a commission from AIRBUS to suspects’ accounts is not the public concern here. You need to find the motive as to why such money was given in the first place.

Remanding the suspects till March 4, the magistrate also considered the slack manner of the CID in conducting the investigation as it had not fully committed to discover the materials regarding the money received in Sri Lanka regarding the Airbus deal. (Shehan Chamika Silva)


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  Comments - 20

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  • Anmanpan Thursday, 20 February 2020 09:21 AM

    Well well well. So the couple are pawns. The CID is silent to many important questions. We have to find out why and who are the people behind this. All points to the infamous Ali Baba, his family and gang.

    Anmanpan Thursday, 20 February 2020 09:24 AM

    I have been watching may TV talkshows and debates. The JVP is very vocal regarding this scandal. The UNP interestingly is not so vocal. Are they too part of the team? A new high end Benz and a 200 strong security provided at tax payers money may be the reason.

    Leo Thursday, 20 February 2020 09:41 AM

    Next step will be MP Namal Rajapakse acquitted from this case.

    Malcolm wickramanayake from kandana Wednesday, 02 November 2022 07:29 PM

    Thats not amusing.all CULPRITS been released due to improper filing of cases against them.

    Mithun Thursday, 20 February 2020 09:44 AM

    Silent! Silent! Silent! This is the pure democracy of Mother Lanka

    Ru de Thursday, 20 February 2020 09:46 AM

    Sorry.com

    Anu Thursday, 20 February 2020 09:58 AM

    does CID having "pittu" in their mouth hole? You're not suppose to be "silent" when the Magistrate ask a direct question, u dum mutt!!!

    NIghtOwl Thursday, 20 February 2020 09:59 AM

    No CID will be another sitting duck whatever magistrates ask or instruct them, as long as the culprits are from ruling side.

    Potta Harry Thursday, 20 February 2020 10:00 AM

    Magistrste Ranga Disdanayake will soon get a promotion and thereby all these inter linked cases will pass to some other to hear.

    Dee Thursday, 20 February 2020 11:25 AM

    Can we just dismiss these cases and just focus on development (building highways, airports and harbor) please?

    Odin Thursday, 20 February 2020 11:58 AM

    The loudest are the most sinister!!!

    Yehiya Thursday, 20 February 2020 02:18 PM

    Judge may transfer soon.

    Ismath Thursday, 20 February 2020 04:32 PM

    The case will be dragged till the election as a hot topic and as if namal is going to go behind bars, after election MP Namal Rajapakse acquitted from this case, and one rabbit in the jungle will go to the jail.

    vithura Thursday, 20 February 2020 06:10 PM

    What a laughing stock this country has become! One has to question the integrity to lecture other countries or even the UNHCR, when it is so plain to see the pathetic sate of law and order here.

    Renu Thursday, 20 February 2020 09:18 PM

    This case

    VJ Friday, 21 February 2020 09:01 AM

    The thieves will prevail in this country where voters who elect them do not know what oxygen is. Most likely they are brain dead because they are getting less of it.

    Senn Friday, 21 February 2020 05:07 PM

    Readers of DM , please give information of Wannalawattawduge Perera brothers and house number and other details ,which this Montessori CO D couldn't find

    Paala Friday, 21 February 2020 05:11 PM

    CID,take that brave forest officer Devani ad an example,the way she faced situation is good example to you people

    Sen Friday, 21 February 2020 05:13 PM

    CID you don't worry we even plead with Swiss embassy tp give you visa

    Sena Friday, 21 February 2020 05:18 PM

    Well,Namal R, you may use political power to save your skin , but this enough to us not to use our fair vote to you


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