ANDERSON’S ALLEGED PROPERTY DEFRAUDER OUT ON BAIL
The disabled Army Captain who was in remand custody on charges of having misappropriated Rs.17.8 million from the Sri Lankan properties owned by Popular X-files actress Gillian Anderson was yesterday released on strict bail conditions by a Colombo Court.
When the case came up before Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne, the defence contended that their client an ex-army officer was in remand custody for nearly one and half months on the grounds of pending investigations. The defence further argued that investigations conducted so far had only revealed a misappropriation relating to one million rupees.
Meanwhile, counsel who appeared for the complainant a British national informed Court that they were objecting to the release of the suspect on bail since he would interfere with the investigations and witnesses. Counsel further told Court that the suspect was an influential character in Pasyala and that he had made several death threats to the complainant and the employees of the governing company.
The defence counsel responded that his client would not interfere with the witnesses as he had already filed a case at the Co-
Actress Gillian Anderson had bought seven acres of land in Nugadola Watta, Pasyala with the objective of inaugurating a Non-governmental Organization in Sri Lanka. The land had been bought in the name of Hill House Private Ltd. The suspect Anura Ratne Bandara had been appointed as a manager of the property
lombo Commercial High Court against Gillian Anderson and two others claiming Rs.100 million as compensation.
Having considered both parties’ arguments, Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne observed that the CID had only found a misappropriation of about one million rupees and that a suspect could not be held in remand custody for too long a period on the grounds of pending investigations.
Imposing a cash bail of Rs.50,000 and three sureties of Rs.2 Million each on the suspect the Magistrate ordered Anura Weeraratne Bandara to refrain from entering the property located at Nugadola Watta, Pasyala. He further warned the suspect against posting death threats or any other interference with the witnesses failing which the bail would be cancelled.
Making a complaint with the CID, Job Davis a British national complained that the suspect Anura Weeraratne had been entrusted with administrating the American actress’ properties located at Pasyala whereby he had committed the offence. The complainant further alleged that the suspect had obtained Rs.17.8 million from another company affiliated to the concerned properties on service requirements.
Actress Gillian Anderson had bought seven acres of land in Nugadola Watta, Pasyala with the objective of inaugurating a Non-governmental Organization in Sri Lanka. The land had been bought in the name of Hill House Private Ltd. The suspect Anura Ratne Bandara had been appointed as a manager of the property.
The CID maintained that the suspect had obtained Rs.6.8 million for the purpose of supplying electricity to the property but misappropriated one million rupees. Further magisterial inquiry into the incident was postponed for March 28.