Daisy Forrest’s mental status questioned; High Court orders fresh medical review

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, Nov.26 (Daily Mirror) - Colombo High Court judge Udesh Ranatunga today directed the Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer to obtain a specialist psychiatric report to determine whether Daisy Forrest, the grandmother of Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s and a co-accused in the money laundering case is mentally fit to stand trial.

At the previous hearing,President’s Counsel Anil Silva appearing for Forrest submitted an order issued by the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court on 17 March 2017, claiming that his client suffers from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and therefore proceeding with the indictment against her would be unreasonable.

The matter was taken up today to announce the prosecution’s position regarding that submission.

Appearing for the prosecution, Additional Solicitor General Janaka Bandara told court that the order produced from the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court did not relate to the present High Court case and that it merely referred to her medical condition at that time. He requested that a fresh expert psychiatric evaluation be obtained to determine whether the second accused is presently fit to face trial.

After considering the submissions, the judge permitted the request and ordered the Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer to obtain a specialist psychiatric report on Forrest’s current mental capacity to stand trial. A copy of the order was also directed to be sent to the Criminal Investigation Department.

The case will be taken up again on January 22.