MV X-Press Pearl case: Two IT officials granted bail

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, Sept. 11 (Daily Mirror) - Two officials of Sea Consortium (Pvt) Ltd, the local representative of MV X-Prosper vessel, who were arrested on suspicion of erasing the vessel’s data system and email records following the fire onboard, were released on bail by Colombo Additional Magistrate Oshadha Migara Mahaarchchi today.

The suspects, Prasanna Jayawardena, Director of the IT Division, and Roshan Senaviratne, Deputy Director of the IT Division, were released on two surety bails of Rs. 2.5 million each. A foreign travel ban was also imposed on the suspects.

Deputy Solicitor General Madhava Tennakoon, appearing for the Attorney General, informed court that a forensic examination conducted by the Department of Computer Science of the University of Colombo had revealed that the two suspects were involved in deleting the vessel’s data system.

He further stated that steps are underway to obtain Cabinet approval to secure the assistance of a foreign university for an independent forensic audit into the incident.

Counsel appearing for the suspects argued that his clients had already given statements to the Criminal Investigation Department on several occasions and noted that other suspects connected to the incident had also been granted bail. Accordingly, he moved for the release of the two accused.

Having considered the facts presented, the Additional Magistrate ordered that both suspects be released on bail.

The case was fixed for further hearing on September 24.