Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena today directed the Illegal Assets Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and produce him before court in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds from the Tourism Promotion Bureau. The order was issued when the case was recalled before court. During proceedings, President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, appearing for the third suspect, informed that his client was willing to make a confidential statement under Section 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. CID officers reported that Rs. 7.8 million allocated to the Tourism Promotion Bureau in 2014 for promotional activities had instead been used to distribute 12,000 T‑shirts during the Uva Provincial Council election, causing financial loss to the government. The Magistrate also ordered the release of the Tourism Promotion Bureau’s former Managing Director Rumi Jaufer, who was in remand custody, on two personal bails of Rs. 1 million each, while imposing a foreign travel ban. Investigators confirmed that charges have been filed under the Public Property Act. The Magistrate further inquired whether the Bureau’s Financial Director, named in the “B Report,” would also be listed as a suspect. The CID responded that advice from the Attorney General was still pending. The case is scheduled to be recalled on October 14. The post Court orders arrest of former minister Basil Rajapaksa appeared first on Newswire.
