Asoka Thilakaratne case: Transport of bank vault
millions:
CID seizes auctioned Army Defender
Sarath MALALASEKERA
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) conducting
investigations into the recovery of Rs 75 million made up of several
foreign currency denominations found in four vaults at a private bank
belonging to Asoka Thilakaratne, had taken into custody a black Defender
Jeep which is alleged to have brought the money to the bank.
Asoka Thilakaratne is the mother of Danuna Thilakaratne, son-in-law
of General Sarath Fonseka.
According to the investigators the black Defender had been purchased
by Danuna Thilakaratne under the name of one of his close friends from
an Army auction on February 14, 2008.
General Sarath Fonseka had been the Army Commander at the time he
purchased the black Defender. A special CID team is conducting
investigations to ascertain how the black Defender was purchased from
the Army auction by Danuna.
Earlier, Mount Lavinia Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge
Harsha Wijetunga granted bail in a Rs 20 million bond with four sureties
to Asoka Thilakaratne, mother of Danuna Thilakaratne, when she was
produced before court by the Criminal Investigations Department in
connection with the discovery of the Rs 75 million.
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 them with the required information.
Mohan Masimbula who appeared for the CID filing a report in court
said that they are conducting investigations into the cash recovered
from four vaults in a private bank under the Exchange Control Act and
whether this money had been used for terrorist activities.
Answering the Judge, Inspector Masimbula said that the money
recovered from the four vaults (Rs 75 million) comprising US Dollars
527,000, Sterling Pounds 100 and cash Rs. 15 million, is being kept in
the same vault at the bank.
The CID told court that they are conducting investigations in
connection with several forged documents relevant to the cash found in
four vaults. According to the investigations the money recovered from
the four vaults is the balance money used for the election campaign of
General Sarath Fonseka.
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