News
Millionaire businesswoman granted bail by HC
View(s):A millionaire businesswoman accused of conspiracy to murder a former police officer has been granted bail by the Colombo High Court.
The businesswoman, Himali Karunaratne from Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha (former Flower Road), Colombo 7, is charged with conspiracy to murder former police officer Rohan Thusitha Kumarasinghe with whom she is alleged have had an affair. Ms. Karunaratne has allegedly conspired with five others to have Kumarasinghe murdered on or about July 21, 2013. She is alleged to have paid money to the other accused for this act.
The other five accused are still on remand.
These five accused are alleged to have abducted Mr. Kumarasinghe while he was at a hair salon in Pelawatte. His body was found to have been dumped in a river in the Kitulgala area. The original investigation was conducted by the Talangama Police, but in November 2013 the dead man’s brother complained to the IGP that no proper investigations were carried into his brother’s disappearance.
Thereafter, the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) took over investigations on the direction of the IGP.
Ms. Karunaratne and the other five accused were arrested in November last year.
The bail application on behalf of Ms. Karunaratne was filed by her mother Dayashantha Karunaratne. After inquiry, Colombo High Court Judge Padmini Ranawaka Gunatilleke granted bail to Ms. Karunaratne on several conditions. Foreign travel was banned and she was asked to hand over her passport to court. Cash bail of Rs. 100,000 was deposited and two sureties provided.
Ronald Perera PC together with Nalin Amarageewa and Indula Hewage appeared for Ms. Karunaratne.
State Counsel P. Weerasinghe appeared for the Attorney General.