NO BAIL FOR SAJIN

The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday rejected the bail application submitted by UPFA Galle district MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena and further remanded him till June 24 for allegedly misusing 22 vehicles belonging to the Presidential Secretariat (PS) during the former regime.

Two vehicles... were re-painted under the suspect’s instruction contrary to government regulations

While rejecting the bail application, Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage observed that there were no exceptional circumstances that surfaced before Court to release the suspect on bail because the suspect had been charged under the Public Property Act.

Senior Counsel Saliya Peiris appearing for Mr. Gunawardena argued that Court should not extend the remand order in respect of his client since there was no justification to remand the suspect under Public PropertyAct.

“There is nothing in the B Reports to prove that these vehicles have been entrusted to my client. No documents had been issued by the Presidential Secretariat that he was entrusted with these vehicles,” Mr. Peiris said.

Meanwhile, defence counsel stated that the suspect had returned 16 vehicles to Presidential Secretariat following the Presidential Election held on January 8.

In reply, CID Chief Inspector Lalitha Dissanayake stated that the concerned vehicles had been released to the suspect by the Presidential Secretariat without documentation.

He said the CID was expecting to obtain an analytical report from the Government Analyst regarding two vehicles, which were re-painted under the suspect’s instruction contrary to government regulations.

Mr. Gunawardena was arrested by CID on charges of having misused 22 vehicles belonging to the Presidential Secretariat (PS).

The CID had alleged that two vehicles out of 22 had been given to Cosmos Security and Investigations (Pvt) Ltd., a private security firm owned by Mr. Gunawardena.

It said the leasing instalments pertaining to these vehicles (LG8732 Toyota HiLux and LG 8729 Toyota HiLux) amounting to Rs. 6 million had been so far paid by the Presidential Secretariat.