AG recommends arrest of Namal & others!

Jun 23, 2016

The Attorney General has informed the FCID that it could take its own decisions and arrest the suspects in a corrupt coal tender deal committed during the previous Rajapaksa regime.

Accordingly, within the next few days, Hambantota district MP Namal Rajapaksa, Pan Asia Bank chairman Nimal Perera, Noel Selvanayagam, Rohan Iriyagolla and Sujani Bogollagama are to be summoned to the FCID for questioning. The tender in question has been submitted by Namal Rajapaksa-owned HELLO CROP.

Dispute between FCID & AG

Instead of directly recommending the arrest of the above-mentioned persons, the AG has recommended that the decision to arrest them after questioning them and wrongdoing is revealed is at the disposal of the FCID, due to a previous controversial incident.

That is – on the AG’s recommendations, the former director board of the Tourism Board was to be arrested and produced before courts over collective responsibility to an instance of abuse of public money.

However, when the FCID went to implement that recommendation, more than 150 officers in the state service appeared on behalf of thieves and threatened to resign, and even a top person in the government has told the FCID to deal compassionately with state officials.

However, the AG had maintained that they should be arrested in view of the abuse of public money for which they were responsible. One of the suspects cited is presently an additional secretary at the prime minister’s office, and tremendous pressure was exerted from the two key partners of the ‘Yahapaalana’ government. So far, no arrests have been made.

This incident has led to a dispute between the FCID and the AG’s Department.

Therefore, this time the AG’s recommendation to the FCID says the decision to arrest them after questioning them and wrongdoing is revealed is at the disposal of the FCID. Anyway, Namal Rajapaksa and the others cited are presently arranging the bail deposits and public servants required, sources say.