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Yoshitha, 4 others remanded for alleged money laundering
View(s):Ex-president’s son in Black Maria A handcuffed Lt. Yoshitha Rajapaksa gestures to supporters while being driven in a Black Maria to Welikada remand prison last night after he was produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate on charges of money laundering. Pic by Amila Gamage | |
Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and four others were remanded till February 11 by Kaduwela Magistrate Dhammika Hemapala yesterday. They were produced before him by detectives of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID). Yoshitha is accused of money laundering to the tune of Rs. 365 million, criminal breach of trust, forgery and undervaluing imported items obtained by Carlton Sports Network.
The other four, accused of aiding and abetting, are Nishantha Ranatunga, former Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, Rohan Welivita, media cooridinator for the former president, Ravinath Fernando and Kaushal Dissanayake. A sixth suspect, now abroad, is to be arrested upon her return, detectives said.
The arrest of Yoshitha Rajapaksa came after FCID detectives questioned him at Navy Headquarters yesterday. Since he is an officer of the Navy, the questioning this time had been carried out after he was summoned to Navy Headquarters in the Fort. From there, detectives accompanied him to the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court where he was produced before Magistrate Hemapala in his chambers together with the four others.
FCID detectives said yesterday that they had seized Rs. 165 million from the CSN bank account which had not been accounted for. They alleged that funds for setting up the television channel had come from illegal sources abroad and also funds deposited in foreign banks had been remitted back to Sri Lanka.
Former President Rajapaksa, his brothers Basil and Gotabaya, his wife Shiranthi and son Namal were among those present in the Court premises. Also present were former Ministers Rohitha Abeygunasekera and Johnston Fernando.