Recovery of Rs 75 million :
Asoka Tilakaratne granted bail
*Passport impounded
*Asked to appear before CID weekly
Sarath MALALASEKERA
Mount Lavinia Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Harsha
Setunga yesterday granted bail in a Rs.20 million bond with four
sureties to Asoka Tilakaratne, mother of Danuna Tilakaratne, son-in-law
of General Sarath Fonseka, when she was produced before court by the
Criminal Investigation Department.
The CID produced Asoka Tilakaratne yesterday after recording her
statement in connection with the recovery of Rs.75 million consisting of
several foreign currencies found in a vault belonging to Asoka
Tilakaratne at a private bank in Colombo.
The Judge directed her to appear at the CID office every Sunday at 12
noon. The Judge also ordered her to surrender her passport to court.
On an application by the CID, the Judge directed the Manager of the
private bank to assist the CID in their ongoing investigations by
providing required information.
Inspector Mohan Masimbula who appeared for the CID filing a report in
court objected to the suspect being released on bail and said that if
she was released on bail she would interfere with the prosecution
witnesses.
The CID is conducting investigations into the money recovered vaults
under the Exchange Control Act and whether this money had been used for
any Terrorist activity.
Answering the Judge, Inspector Masimbula said the money recovered
from the four vaults, amounting to Rs.75 million including US Dollars
527,000, Sterling Pounds 100 and cash Rs.15 million, is being kept in
the same vault at the bank.
The CID said that they are investigating in connection with several
forged documents relevant to the money found in four vaults. According
to the investigations the money recovered from the four vaults is the
balance of the money used for the election campaign for General Sarath
Fonseka.
Senior Attorney-at-Law Asela Rekawa counsel for Asoka Tilakaratne
moving for bail submitted that his client is a diabetic patient and she
needs special care for her sickness.
Defence Counsel said his client had assisted the investigations and
had given all the necessary information to the CID team who is
conducting investigations.
Attorneys Asela Rekawa with Athula Ranagala, Ravi Mathugama, Uditha
Abeyratne, Ranjith Dhanayake, Prasanna Weerasekera, Ajith Perera,
Tharanga Silva and Sandun Gamage appeared for Asoka Tilakaratne. |