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Ex-Minister Abdul Cader remanded till August 16

by Sarath Malalasekera

Former UNP Co-operatives Minister A.R.M. Abdul Cader, produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Ms. Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena by the Special Investigations Unit of the Police Headquarters, was remanded till August 16.

He was arrested on Tuesday night by a special team from the Police Headquarters in connection with an alleged misappropriation of Rs. 1 million belonging to the Samurdhi Society Development Fund.

Inspector Ruwan Gunasekera, OIC of the Special Unit produced a certificate signed by ASP C.V. Wedasinghe and said that according to investigations, Cader had obtained Rs.1 million from Samurdhi funds to purchase 690 bags of samba-rice to be distributed among 11 mosques in the Kandy District.

Kandy Galhena Mosque trustee Ismail Mohamed Jaufer had told investigators that they never received 150 bags of samba-rice for the 2003 Ramazan Festival.

Gelioya Mosque trustee Ibrahim Lebbe Abdul Majeed told the investigators that his mosque never received 50 bags of rice from the Samurdhi Organisation.

Gampola Babila Mosque had received 20 bags of White Kekulu rice, said the trustee of the Mosque Mohamed Saleem Mohamed Nazar. Gampola Ilangawatte Mosque trustee had told investigators that Minister Cader had given them 26 bags of Kekulu rice and 28 bags of samba rice. The Kadugannawa Jumma Mosque had received 2000 kilograms of samba rice, the treasurer of the Mosque Abdul Sathar Mohamed Jaheer Hussain told investigators.

Inspector Gunasekera told court that investigations into the alleged criminal misappropriation of Rs. 1 million had not been completed and they have to record more statements from several persons in connection with their investigations and remand the suspect until then.

On an application by A.S.M. Perera, senior counsel for the suspect Cader, the Judge directed prison authorities to provide the required medical treatment for the suspect while in the remand custody.

The Judge directed the investigators to submit a further report in connection with their investigations on the next date, August 16. Earlier former Samurdhi Ministry Secretary Dr.Kumari Navaratne has already been served with a Magisterial Order restraining her from leaving the country after claiming to have released the Rs. 1 million to purchase a consignment of rice to be distributed among mosques during the Ramazan season on a request by former Minister Cader.

At the inquiry it was revealed that although the former Minister had named 10 mosques some mosques had not received the rice while some received less than their stipulated amount of rice.

It was also found that a sum of Rs. 1 million was issued by a voucher dated November 17, 2003 and by a letter to the Minister of Samurdhi S. B. Dissanayake, the then Minister of Co-operatives Abdul Cader had informed that he had distributed bags of rice among some mosques at a cost of Rs. 1 million and requested the Samurdhi Minister to provide the said amount from the Samurdhi Fund.

The inquiry further stated that a copy of the said letter together with a cheque to the value of Rs. 1 million issued by the Bank of Ceylon Torrington Branch in favour of Mahantha Stores in Gampola was found.

However, the said bags of rice has not been issued and some mosques were not even aware of the distribution of rice among the mosques during the Ramazan period.

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