Court allows ex-CJ to examine NDB computers

The Colombo Chief Magistrate today allowed former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayke to examine the computers at the NDB branch in Colombo to ensure the data tendered as evidence against Mrs. Bandaranayake before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court was credible.

Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya made this order to the defence on considering the submissions made by President’s Counsel Nalin Laddwahetty during the inquiry into the motion filed by the defence in this case.

Mr. Ladduwahetty submitted that the prosecution had given 45 days notice to the defence to file objections if any. He said accordingly the prosecution would lead computer-based evidence against Mrs. Bandaranayake.

Mr. Ladduwahetty contended that the defence should be allowed to examine the computers from which the data had been obtained before filing the objections.

Thus he moved to allow the defence to examine the computers by an expert panel consisting of software and hardware experts, computer experts, auditors and lawyers.

The Counsel also said an officer of the NDB Bank had illegally given away the details of the account to websites and to the Parliamentarians who had published and discussed it in publicly.

Deputy Director (Legal) Mrs. Subashini Silva of the Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption said the State Counsel appearing on behalf of the Commission was not present in court as he was in the High Court.

However she asserted that the Commission would not object to the defense examining the computers.

Magistrate Pilapitiya allowed the defence to have the computers examined by an expert panel consisting of eight members during banking hours within a four-day period; thereafter to file objections.

The Commission charged the Former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court for not disclosing the details of three accounts in the NDB Bank which were in the name of Shirani Bandaranayke during her tenure of office as Chief Justice.
The case will be called again on May19.

President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty with Gunaratne Wanninayake, U. L .G. Bandara, Bandara Ekanaye, Thisara Chamara,  Yousuf Nassar and Chathura Amaratunge instructed by  Nilanthi Pieris of Paul Ratnayake Associates appeared for the defence.