AG wants bond scam case to proceed with two accused in absentia
October 13, 2021 10:46 am
The Attorney General has requested the Colombo Special Trial-at-Bar to continue proceedings on the 2015 February bond scam case with two of the accused in absentia, says Ada Derana reporter.
As per reports, former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and a former director of Perpetual Treasuries Ajahn Gardiya Punchihewa are currently residing overseas.
The legal matter pertaining to criminal misappropriation of bonds was taken up this morning (October 13). Special High Court’s bench, consisting of Judges Champa Janaki Rajaratne, Damith Thotawatta and Namal Balalle sat for the hearing.
Additional Solicitor General Priyantha Nawana, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General, informed the court that the Government of Singapore has initiated the extradition process for Arjuna Mahendran.
However, it is learned that the 10th suspect in the case, Ajahn Gardiya Punchihewa is currently residing in Malaysia, the Additional Solicitor General told the court adding that bringing him back to the island under extradition laws is practically impossible.
Accordingly, the Additional Solicitor General requested the court to proceed with the trial without the presence of the two defendants.
The Special Trial-at-Bar then scheduled the further hearing of the case for December 03.
Accepting a request made by the Additional Solicitor General, the Special Trial-at-Bar directed the prosecutors to keep the court up to date through a motion on the process to extradite Arjuna Mahendran.
The case was filed against ten suspects – former CBSL Governor Arjuna Mahendran, former CBSL Deputy Governor Paththinige Samarasiri, Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) owner Arjun Joseph Aloysius, PTL CEO Kasun Oshadhi Palisena, chairman Geoffrey Joseph Aloysius, directors Pushyamithra Gunawardena, Chitta Ranjan Hulugalle, Muthuraja Surendran and Ajahn Gardiye Punchihewa – for incurring a loss of nearly Rs. 688 million to the government through criminal misappropriation of Treasury bonds during an auction held on February 27, 2015.
