The FCID conducting investigations against five suspects including Hambantota district MP Namal Rajapaksa for their alleged involvement in money laundering amounting to Rs.15 million in a company owned by Namal Rajapaksa, yesterday informed Court that they were yet to receive the Attorney General’s (AG) advice regarding the future course of legal action against the suspects.
When the case came up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Pradeep Liyanage, the FCID said that the preliminary investigations regarding the incident have been concluded and sought the AG’s advice in this regard. Accordingly, further magisterial inquiry into the incident was fixed for October 25.
Meanwhile, the Court was informed that Indika Prabhath Karunajeewa, who had evaded court since the inception, is living in Australia. The prosecutors told court that they have taken necessary steps to extradite Indika Prabath Karunajeewa. The Court had issued warrants through Interpol for the arrest of Indika Prabhath Karunajeewa.
Four suspects Namal Rajapaksa, Sudarshana Bandara Ganewatta, Nithya Senani and Sujani Bogollagama were present in Court. The travel bans imposed against them were lifted until the next magisterial inquiry.
The FCID had commenced investigations into a complaint that MP Namal Rajapaksa had allegedly purchased Hello Corp.Pvt. Ltd for Rs.100 million using ill-gotten funds of Gowers Corporation and NR Consultation Pvt Ltd, allegedly owned by Namal Rajapaksa.
The FCID informed Court that investigations revealed that MP Rajapaksa had been allegedly involved in money laundering amounting to Rs. 15 million at NR Consultation Pvt Ltd and another Rs.30 million in Gowers Corporation Pvt Ltd, in 2012. The Attorney General had filed indictments in the Colombo High Court against Namal Rajapaksa and five others for alleged money laundering amounting to Rs.30 million at NR Consultation.
Police alleged that money laundering transactions had taken place through a company named Boston Capital, allegedly owned by Rohan Iriyagolla and he has revealed everything in this regard.
Wasantha Samarasinghe, in his complaint, alleged that MP Namal Rajapaksa had bought shares of a company named Hello Corp and set up a company called Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited while being a MP, from the Rs.125 million he earned through illegal means.