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| Tuesday, 18 May 2004 |
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| Ex-UNP MP remanded : Aluminium sheets scam hits the roof by Sarath Malalasekera Detectives investigating the countrywide aluminium roofing sheets scam carried out by UNP MPs and Pradeshiya Sabha Chairmen estimate the fraud in the illegal sale of public property was estimated at a colossal Rs. 2 billion. The roofing sheets earmarked for distribution among 128,000 poor families were imported from India by the Government and handed over to UNP MPs and Pradeshiya Sabha Chairmen but a large part of it had been surreptitiously sold to hardware dealers. Former Colombo district UNP MP Lilantha Perera who surrendered on Sunday through his lawyers before the Colombo Crime Division Director Senior Superintendent of Police Sarath Lugoda, produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday was remanded till May 27. Perera was wanted by the Police in connection with the alleged possession and sale of the aluminium sheets. Police investigating into the roofing sheet scam on Sunday interrogated Perera after he surrendered to the Colombo Crime Division (CCD). Senior SP Sarath Lugoda, who led the prosecuting team, yesterday strongly objected to the suspect being released on bail saying this would hamper investigations. Since March 30, the suspect had been absconding and police had been unable to trace him until he surrendered on Sunday through his lawyers. The CCD Director said investigations to-date revealed that 986 sheets had been sold to a Killinochchi trader. Police also have to recover 7884 aluminum sheets sold to outsiders. The suspect could only be released on exceptional circumstances. Diabetic and heart disease are common diseases in the country. He could be treated at the prison hospital for these diseases, the CCD Director submitted. SSP Lugoda emphasised that there was no Mention in the Ministry letter about the distribution of the imported aluminum sheets. President's Counsel Daya Perera, Senior Counsel for Lilantha Perera, moving for bail said his client had kept these sheets to be distributed among poor families in the area while he had also prepared a list to that effect. The President's Counsel submitted that his client could not have distributed the sheets as the President had directed not to distribute the imported aluminum sheets during the last election campaign. Therefore, the sheets were stored until the elections were over. Producing several medical certificates from Dr. Ruwan Ekanayake, the President's Counsel said his client is suffering from a severe heart ailment in addition to being a diabetic and needed specialised treatment. Producing a letter sent to Minister Ferial Ashraff, the President's Counsel said in connection with these sheets, the suspect had written to Minister Ashraff asking Ministry to remove the sheets. But before they were removed, the police took them into custody. Perera is among a number of UNP MPs and Pradeshiya Sabha members under investigation for the alleged fraudulent disposal of aluminium roofing sheets to traders. Four other suspects who allegedly purchased the aluminium sheets strictly not for sale, from Perera were earlier taken into custody by the CCD and produced before court. S. Pillai Shanmugam, Mohamed Hussain Faroos Jaufer and R. Gnanasekeram were further remanded till May 27. while Kariappa Sivakumar was released on bail. CCD also recorded a statement of former Western Province Regional Development UNP Minister M. H. Mohammed. Police are also looking for a close associate of the former UNP MP who allegedly carried out the transaction of selling the roofing sheets to the market, the CCD Director said. In another case, CCD officials arrested Jayantha Bandara and Abdul Mohamed Nazar who allegedly misappropriated the roofing sheets. Produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate Ranjan Dissanayake, they were granted cash bail in sums of Rs.10,000 and Rs.25,000 each with two sureties. Investigations also revealed that 7510 sheets had been recovered from a businessman in Colombo who allegedly purchased the sheets from the former UNP MP. Several hardware stores and warehouses in Colombo district have been raided by CCD officials to trace the roofing sheets sold to outsiders. CCD officials had also questioned several transport firms in connection with the sale of roofing sheets. CCD Director Senior SP Sarath Lugoda assisted by ASP Palitha Fernando, Inspector Nuwan Wedasinghe and SI Rajapaksa appeared for the prosecution. President's Counsel Doughy Perera with Anuja Premaratne, Joseph Charles and K. Ranawake appeared for Perera. President's Counsel M.L.M. Ameen with K. Bisha, S. Kalupahana, Anton Senanayake and S. Hettiarachchi appeared for the other suspects. |
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