Mavilaru fraud suspects further remanded

Sarath Malalasekera

COLOMBO: The five suspects attached to the Agrarian Insurance Services including its Chairman who had been remanded in connection with misappropriation of millions of rupees, allocated for distribution among the farmers who were affected during the attack on the Mavilaru anicut by the LTTE terrorists, were yesterday further remanded till May 9 by Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Namal Bandara Balalle.

The Judge allowed an application by the CID to peruse the bank accounts of the suspects now in remand custody in connection with the alleged fraud.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing the massive fraud at the Agrarian Insurance Service told court that one of the suspects who had been detained in connections with the fraud is alleged to have connections with the LTTE.

The five suspects are Rasaih Saradha, Saravanamuttu Arvinda, U.R. Chandradasa, Punnayasiri Perera and Namal Ratnayake.

The CID also told court that three senior officials of the Agrarian Insurance and Agrarian Service alleged to have misappropriated government funds totalling Rs.6,787,796, which was to be distributed among the farmers who were affected during the attack on Mavil Aru anicut.

A special CID team is conducting investigations into the massive fraud.

President’s Counsel Daya Perera, Arjuna Premaratne, Jayantha Dias Nanayakkara, Sanjey Gamage, Sudrshini Gunaratne, T. Kirunasakara and Aruna Mallawartachchi appeared for the suspects.

The case will be called again on May 9.