Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage has ordered the Bribery Commission to submit a formal report acceptable to the court regarding the investigations carried out concerning the amount of Rs. 17,850,000 found on July 09, 2022, in the official room of the President’s House where former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resided.
The Magistrate made this order yesterday (13th) when the CID informed the court that the Bribery Commission had informed the court that no allegations of corruption or assets were reported concerning the investigations carried out on the incident.
The Magistrate, who firmly told the Commission not to submit a report using only a few sentences, has also ordered the Commission to submit a formal report acceptable to the court as a responsible institution.
The CID has sent a B report to the court and informed that this notification has been made according to an order made by the Fort Magistrate.
The National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses’s legal officer informed the court that a special committee has been appointed to investigate the incident and that a report would be forwarded to the court as soon as possible.
As former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has claimed this money, the CID has informed the court that it has inquired from the Attorney General whether investigations can be conducted against the former President under the Money Laundering Act but has yet to receive any instructions.
Mr. Maithri Gunaratne, the President’s Counsel, who appeared for the aggrieved party, informed the court that the law of this country treats the little man differently.
“This investigation is like a game of hide and seek, and even court orders are not taken into account. They have not appeared in the court even today, even though a notice was issued the previous day to appear in the court. This investigation is conducted partially,” said Maitri Gunaratne. He also informed the court that the police are conducting investigations to save them out of fear of higher officials.
