Golden Key Credit Card scam:

Kotelawela and other suspects further remanded

by Sarath MALALASEKERA

The Mount Lavinia Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Harsha Sethunga, who is hearing the alleged Golden Key Credit Card fraud, directed several Bank managers and managers of several Mobile telephone companies, who were present in court to assist the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) by providing with all the necessary material, it needs, in order to conduct the investigations smoothly without any delay.

The Defence Counsel also should provide with all the necessary materials and other correct informations about the suspects to court and the investigators in order to complete the investigations, the judge observed.

The judge refused applications for bail in respect of the suspects including the Chairman of Golden Key Credit Card Company who had been remanded in connection with the alleged Golden Key Credit Card fraud and remanded them till July 16.

He reserved order in respect of Chairman Lalith Kotelawela for July 16, as his bail application is pending before the Colombo High Court.

Court also directed the prison authorities to produce the suspects on Julye 2, in order to extend their remand orders.

Deputy Solicitor General Sarath Jayamanne, who led the prosecuting team assisted by Inspector Rohan Misbula of the CID, vehemently objected to the suspects being released on bail. He said that investigations could be hampered if the suspects were granted bail. Some of the suspects will leave the country before the investigations are completed.

The Deputy Solicitor General said that the investigators had in the presence of Chairman Lalith kotalawela and several others broken open the door of a room of Mrs. Kotelawela and taken into custody several valuable documents. The investigators had also recorded statements of 800 depositors, some of them were from Kandy District.

If any of the suspects, now in remand custody, needing to collect any of the documents to be produced before the court regarding the case, could make a request to court and obtain permissions from the court to visit any office with the assistance of prison officers, DSG Sarath Jayamanne said.

The Deputy Chairman Cecilia Kotelawela was not present in court yesterday. The Deputy Solicitor General said that her counsel had not placed any material before court.

He submitted that regarding Mrs. Kotalawela police had sought assistance from the Singapore Interpol regarding Mrs. Kotalawela.

At the outset, Senior Counsel for Ceylinco Chairman, Lalith Kotelawela, President’s Counsel Reinzie Arasacularatne moving for bail, submitted to court to release his client on bail in order to make arrangements to re pay the depositors as early as possible.

He submitted that his client had to negotiate with several foreigners to obtain money to settle the depositors. He said that he will not leave the country as he is the chairman of over 400 companies in the country.

President’s Counsel S. Parathalingam, who appeared for Mrs. Karunanayake with Mrs. Anoma Goonetileke Wicremaratne and Nishkan Parathalingam, submitted that he will make his submissions in respect of his client after the prosecution filed their objections for bail application on the next date.

A team of Senior Counsel including President’s Counsel M.L.M. Ameen, Clinton Dabare, Nalin Ladduwahetty, Anil Silva, Ransiri Fernando, U.R. de Silva, Anuja Premaratne, Anura Medagoda, Ravi Mathugama, Buddhika Jayasinghe appearing for the suspects moved court to grant them bail.

President’s Counsel Nigel Hatch, Ananda Kasthuriarachchi, Neveille Abeyratne, Janapriya Fernando, Shanaka Ranasinghe and a team of lawyers appeared for the depositors.

The case will resume on July 16.