Arjun A's evidence crucial for thorough probe: CoI Chairman

Acting Solicitor General Dappula De Livera and the Attorney General’s Dept are in consultation to decide on court intervention to compel Perpetual Treasuries Ltd. (PTL) owner Arjun Aloysius to give evidence before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) probing the Treasury Bond (TB) issue.

The move follows Arjun Aloysius informing the CoI on Thursday (14) that he did not wish to give evidence before it. On Wednesday, the CoI acknowledged it can’t compel Mr Aloysius to testify before it, but pointed out his evidence is crucial for it to conduct a thorough probe.

Issuing a 9-page Order over an objection raised by Aloysius’ Attorney Gamini Marapana P.C., that his client is being forced to testify, CoI Chairman Justice K. T. Chitrasiri noted that, despite more than 50 testimonies of witnesses and substantial amount of materials placed before the CoI, Mr Aloysius’s evidence is crucial, as his company is the major dealer in most of the monetary transactions. (see Box) (graphic)

Justice Chitrasiri noted that the CoI also required evidence from Mr Aloysius with regard to several matters directly within his personal knowledge, including his relationship with former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, the role played by Mr Aloysius in obtaining a primary dealer’s licence from the Central Bank, day-to-day operations of the company as its Chief Executive, and the reasons for his resignation from that post.

On Friday (15), the CoI also issued summons on General Manager and Chief Dealer of People’s Bank, Vasantha Kumar and Arjun Aloysius’s Private Secretary Richie Samuel to appear before the CoI on Monday (18), to give evidence.

Former Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran has been issued summons to appear before the CoI on Tuesday.