Court orders Central Bank to hand over pending account records to CID in bond scam probe

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama yesterday ordered the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to provide the Criminal Investigation Department with the remaining account records relevant to the ongoing investigations into the Central Bank bond scam.  
The court was informed that although a previous order had been issued directing the Central Bank to submit several account statements related to the investigation, only part of the required information had been provided. The CID’s Financial Crimes Investigation Division, in a motion filed before court stated that certain account records belonging to Perpetual Treasuries Ltd and the Central Bank itself were still required for the continuation of the inquiry. 
Considering this request, the Chief Magistrate ordered the Central Bank to submit the remaining account records sought by the CID’s Financial Crimes Investigation Division.  
The court further revealed that seven individuals, including Perpetual Treasuries Ltd, its Director Arjun Aloysius and former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, have been named as suspects in the case.  
It was also noted that the Attorney General has already filed indictments against them before the Special Three Judge High Court Trial-at-Bar.