Archives

Judge orders CID to protect interests of Pramuka customers

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Maligakanda Magistrate and Additional District Judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena yesterday ordered Criminal Investigation Department officials to take all necessary steps to protect the interests of Pramuka Bank's Customers without allowing them to suffer in anyway.

The Judge gave this order when the Pramuka Bank's alleged fraud case came up for hearing yesterday morning.

The CID yesterday filing a further report in connection with their investigations submitted that several Government and NGO officials had collected millions of rupees in 'Gold Certificates' after depositing State funds with the Pramuka Bank.

The CID also told court that the dossier of the investigations had been forwarded to the Attorney General for his advice.

Saliya Peiris, senior counsel for Rohan Perera former Pramuka Bank chairman, said that his client is out of the country and that he will appear before court as soon as he returned to the country.

Earlier, the CID recorded the statements from officials of thirty-three Government Departments who had collected over Rs.40.5 million as incentive "Gold Certificates" by depositing over Rs.70.2 million State funds in the Pramuka Bank during the 1997 - 2002 period.

Several top public servants will be questioned by the officials of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the alleged obtaining of incentives from millions of State funds deposited at the Pramuka Development and Savings Bank from 1997 to 2002.

The CID invstigating the alleged illegal activities of the Pramuka Bank on a complaint made by the Central Bank has obtained the list of names of the top public servants who had allegedly collected a one percent incentive from the State funds ranging from Rs. 20 million to Rs. 40 million.

Earlier, the CID sought the assistance of the Interpol London to trace the former chairman of the Pramuka Development and Saving Bank Rohan Perera who was also its Executive Director.

Earlier, the Judge weerawardena directed Rohan Perera, Managing Director A. H. A. Mendis, six senior managerial staff and two residents of Wennappuwa not to leave the country without court permission.

The Judge also ordered Rohan Perera not to enter the bank premises at Kollupitiya until further notice.

The Judge made these orders earlier following an application made by State Counsel Harippriya Jayasundera who appearerd with the CID for the prosecution.

The State Counsel also said several other alleged frauds had surfaced at Pramuka Bank following the CID investigations and moved for a date to file a further report in connection with the investigations.

On the last hearing date the Judge directed all parties, other than Rohan Perera, in the case to appear in court when noticed.

The State Counsel submittd to court that the CID commenced investigations into the alleged bank frauds, running into millions of rupees on a complaint by the Central Bank.

The case will be called on June 20, 2003.

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager