Order reserved in Sakvithi case
SARATH MALALASEKERA
Nugegoda Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Wasantha
Jinadasa reserved order in two bail applications filed by two suspects
in the 'Sakvithi Scam' for March 16.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing the massive
financial racket alleged to have been carried out by the "Sakvithi
Ranasinghe Construction Company" took several suspects into custody,
including the two suspects Rohitha Abeyratne of Polonnaruwa and
Inspector Pushpakumara.
Senior Defence Counsel Upali Senaratne moving for bail submitted to
court that his client Rohitha Abeyratne is from Matale and went to
Polonnaruwa as the agent of Sakvithi Ranasinghe in order to distribute
cassettes and English language videos.
On the direction of Sakvithi his client took Sakvithi's wife and
children to India. On his return from India he found that Sakvithi's
business empire had collapsed. Since he too had deposited Rs.400,000 he
immediately went to the Mirihana Police and complained that Sakvithi's
wife and children were in India.
Senior Counsel Senaratne further submitted that his client was never
arrested by the CID, but on his own he surrendered to the Police. He has
been in remand for a long period. Citing the Chief Justice's Judgement
on the Anuruddha Ratwatte vs Attorney General case, Senior Counsel said
"everyday spent incarcerated constitute deprivation personal liberty".
This Court should have reasons to believe that such persons, would act
in the manner specified in Section 14 (1) 2-3 or that there would be
public disquiet, Counsel added.
Senior Counsel Senaratne thanked Court for taking effective steps to
quell the disturbances that would have erupted if not for timely action
taken by the Court.
Attorney-at-Law Vidura Manchanayake, Senior Counsel for Inspector
Pushpakumara, said that he is also associating with Senior Defence
Counsel Senaratne submissions and moved court to grant bail for his
client.
Senior Defence Counsel Upali Senaratne with Attorneys Chandana
Kalansooriya and Mayomi Ranawake appeared for Rohitha Abeyratne. |
