Wimal makes own submissions

Weerawansa told Court about the difficulties he faced in the remand prison. Says only 2 buckets for sanitary purposes Re-remanded till Mar.20

MP Wimal Weerawansa yesterday made his own submissions from the defence dock and requested Court to take legal action against the FCID officials who violated the Public Property Act and misguided Court in their inquiry into the allegations against him.

He was not represented by a lawyer. Mr. Weerawansa told court that according to section 8 (1) of the Public Property Act, if the misuse of the public property was above Rs.25,000, the prosecution is required to produce a certificate authorized by an ASP.

He said this certificate should be submitted to court when the suspect was produced in Court or surrendered to Court. Mr. Weerawansa said the FCID in its report filed in Court had attached the ASP’S certificate prior to him being named as a suspect.

He said the entire inquiry was conducted by the FCID to keep him in remand on the instructions of the Prime Minister for political revenge.

Mr. Weerawansa questioned the prosecution’s contradictory action during the inquiry and highlighted the unambiguous involvement of former State Engineering Corporation (SEC) Chairman Ashu Marasinghe, who is a UNP MP and former deputy minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna.

He said the FCID had not taken legal action against them because they were currently associated with the new government and pointed out that during his tenure as Housing and Construction Minister he had instructed his ministerial officials to follow the precedent set by Minister Rajitha Senaratne when allocating state vehicles for various purposes.

Mr. Weerawansa told Court about the difficulties he faced in the remand prison. He said he was given only two empty buckets for sanitary purposes.

Mr. Weerawansa requested court to grant him bail considering the fact that he was a member of the legislature.

However, Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne said the Magistrate’s Court had no authority to direct the prison authorities to provide facilities to an inmate but could convey this matter for their attention.

Meanwhile, the suspect was re-remanded till March 20 and on which date Court would consider the suspect’s bail request.