Can Gota be arrested for other offences?:

AG seeks SC advice on stay order

by Rasika Jayakody

The Attorney General (AG) will seek clarification from the Supreme Court on the scope of the interim order issued by the court preventing the arrest of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The AG will make this application to the Court following a request by IGP N.K. Illangakoon for a clarification from the Supreme Court whether the police could arrest former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa for an offence not coming under the Police FCID.

The Supreme Court, on May 13, issued an interim order preventing the arrest of former Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The order is effective until the petition filed by him is determined.

The Supreme Court granted leave to proceed with the FR application filed by Rajapaksa and issued this order. The petition will be taken up before the Supreme Court on October 6. The respondents were also ordered to file objections on or before July 7 with counter objections to be filed within six weeks beginning July 7. The two-member Supreme Court Bench which issued this order comprised Justices Eva Wanasundara and Sarath De Abrew.

Rajapaksa, in his FR application, stated that he had been summoned to the Financial Crimes Investigations Division to obtain a statement from him over the MIG aircraft deal and the investment of money belonging to Lanka Hospitals Limited and he was to be arrested at this division.

Rajapaksa also questioned the legality of the Police Financial Crimes Division which was set up after the new government took office.

In addition to the FCID, the Bribery Commission is also conducting an investigation on the former Defence Secretary over alleged financial discrepancies at the 2013 Deyata Kirula exhibition in Ampara and cases regarding Avant-Garde Security Services and Rakna Lanka Araksha Limited.