Former WP Chief Minister and wife allowed to travel abroad
Colombo High Court last week after considering a motion filed by the instructing Attorney for former Chief Minister of the Western Province, Prasanna Ranatunga and his wife allowed the two accused to travel to India from November 21 to 26, 2017. Colombo High Court Judge Manilal Waidyathilaka made this order on considering t h e submissions made by Attorney Mary Dickman on behalf of the accused. The Judge released them to go to India in a case filed against Mr. Ranatunga, and his wife over their involvement into alleged extorting of money from Gerhard Mendis, a director of Silicon Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, involving a land deal at Meetotamulla.
The complainant had complained to FCID alleging that Ranatunga had solicited a bribe of 64 million rupees to issue a certificate on reclamation and development of a land belonging to him.
It was also alleged that Ranatunga had accepted 15 million rupees of the sum as an advance. He has also reportedly accepted the money by cheques written in his wife’s name.
The FCID has extensively questioned Ranatunga over alleged charges of extortion.
This case is been fixed for trial but was postponed from time to time from October for various reasons.
Prasanna Ranatunga, his wife Maureen Ranatunga and another person were indicted in the High Court on charges of threatening the businessman over the phone and demanding Rs.64 million.
The trial against the third accused Naresh Kumar Fareek, who was evading courts from the inception of investigations, is fixed to hear in absentia. MP Ranatunga and his wife were currently out on bail.
The Attorney General had framed indictments on 15 counts against the accused Prasanna Ranatunga, Maureen Ranatunga and Naresh Kumar Fareek for committing offences during the period between April 6, 2015 and June 2, 2015.
The AG had listed 65 witnesses and 35 productions against the accused.
The investigations had revealed that businessman Gerhard Mendis who purchased a 2.5 acre land in Meethotamulla sometime back, had requested the former Chief Minister to evacuate the squatters of the land and to fill it with soil.
Mr. Ranatunge and his wife along with two others had entered into an agreement with the businessman and the latter had paid Rs.15 million to the former for the services. However, subsequent to this Ranatunge had threatened Mendis over the phone demanding the rest of the money involving a promised note.