The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has informed former President Maithripala Srisiena and Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to notify the investigators of a possible date to obtain statements from the duo relating to the Central Bank Bond scam probe. The CID has requested former President and former Prime Minister for a date after June 22.
It is expected the CID will visit Sirisena and Wickremesinghe at their residences to obtain the statements.
The CID informed the politicians of their need to obtain a statement after the Attorney General Dappula De Livera last week instructed Acting IGP C.D Wickramaratne to obtain statements from former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on the Central Bank Bond scam probe. He also asked the Police to obtain statements from former Advisor to Prime Minister R. Paskaralingam and former General Manager of People’s Bank Wasantha Kumar.
The Acting IGP has been asked to obtain statements on the orders of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate the issuance of Treasury Bonds from February 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016.
On Wednesday (17), Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake ordered the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to arrest former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and Ajahn Gardiya Punchihewa.
The two, believed to be currently residing in Singapore, are the main accused in the ongoing Central Bank Treasury Bond scam case.
When the court case of the first bond issue (filing of indictments) was taken up before a permanent high court Trial-at-Bar on Tuesday, the court was informed by Attorney General (AG) Dappula de Livera that Interpol has informed that Mahendran has changed his name to Arjan Alexander.
AG’s Department and Singapore AG’s Department have exchanged information regarding the extradition of Mahendran. On two occasions the Singapore AG Department has provided information regarding the case and most of this information was on dual-criminality, the court heard.Also, the AG’s Department has written to Singapore regarding the information on June 9.
Court also reissued summons of the 10th accused, Punchihewa, to appear before court during the next hearing. The case was postponed for November 17.
Ministry of Foreign Relations and Attorney General’s Department officials were not available for comment.