Basil to file FR

Challenging legalities of his arrest:

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

MP Basil Rajapaksa and three others, accused of misusing ‘Divi Neguma’ funds and remanded till May 20, are to file a Fundamental Rights petition this week, challenging the legalities of their arrest.

Basil Rajapaksa’s lawyer, Attorney Udaya Rohan de Silva, said the issue of whether there was sufficient evidence to keep them in remand is also in question. “These matters will also be discussed in the Fundamental Right case,” he said.

Basil Rajapaksa was arrested on April 22 by the FCID and was produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate. He was remanded till May 20. The Former Secretary to the now defunct Ministry of Economic Development, Nihal Jayathilake, Former Divi Neguma Department Director General R.R.K. Ranawaka and the Additional Director General Bandula Thilakasiri were also taken in for questioning over misappropriation of funds. The three suspects were also remanded until May 20.

President Counsel Romesh de Silva, three other Counsels have been given the responsibility to handle the case addressing the violation of Fundamental Rights of the four suspects.

Attorney de Silva explained that Basil Rajapaksa was asked to present himself at the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) to make a witness to assist the investigations but claimed he was not implicated as a suspect. "There were four B reports and none of them identified him as a suspect," he said.

"The AG's Department official ascertained that they will not unnecessarily delay the court procedures and will send their views through the Police to the Courts on May 20. "The AG's Department will let us know then as to whether they are filing indictments against all four suspects," he added.