COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa has once again been ordered to be arrested and produced before court after the Matara Chief Magistrate's Court reissued a warrant against him for failing to appear in an ongoing case.
Matara Chief Magistrate Chathuranga Eranga Dissanayake issued the fresh warrant when the case concerning the purchase of a one-and-a-half-acre property located at Browns Hill on Eliyakanda Road in Matara was taken up today.
The case, filed by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division, relates to allegations surrounding the acquisition of the land.
A warrant had previously been issued against Rajapaksa on May 22 after he failed to appear before court on that occasion as well.
Considering submissions made before court that Rajapaksa had continued to evade court appearances, the Chief Magistrate ordered that a fresh warrant be issued for his arrest.
The case has been filed against former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Ayoma Galappaththi, who is the sister of his wife, Tissa Galappaththi, and Muditha Jayakody in connection with allegations that a property in the Browns Hill area of Matara had been purchased using funds allegedly obtained through unlawful means.
When the case was called, Rajapaksa, who is the third accused, and Ayoma Galappaththi, the fourth accused, were absent from open court. However, their bail sureties were present before the Magistrate.
As the sureties were unable to produce the accused before court, the Magistrate directed them to show cause as to why the bail amounts should not be forfeited to the State.
The sureties subsequently requested a date to submit written submissions regarding the matter.
The Magistrate ordered that the case be recalled on August 18 for the filing of written submissions and further proceedings.
A foreign travel ban imposed on Basil Rajapaksa remains in effect as the case continues before the Matara Magistrate's Court.
