Wimal refused bail; further remanded | Daily News

Wimal refused bail; further remanded

National Freedom Front leader MP Wimal Weerawansa arrested for allegedly misusing 40 vehicles belonging to the State Engineering Corporation (SEC) while functioning as the Housing, Construction and Engineering Services Minister incurring a loss of Rs. 91 million to the government was yesterday ordered to be further remanded till April 7 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne. The Magistrate yesterday refused to release Wimal Weerawansa on bail citing that the documents pertaining to his daughter’s health condition are not sufficient enough to consider releasing the suspect on bail under exceptional circumstances.

Filing a motion on March 24, MP Wimal Weerawansa had filed a bail application in the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court citing his 15-year-old daughter’s mental health condition be considered as an exceptional circumstances to release him on bail.

While refusing to release the suspect on bail, the Magistrate observed that the bail application was not supported by the suspect with relevant documents to prove that his daughter was suffering from a particular illness.

“The bail application mentioned that the15-year-old daughter had been admitted to Lady Ridgeway Hospital in Borella without tendering sufficient documents pertaining to her health condition.

Meanwhile, defence counsel appeared on behalf of Wimal Weerawansa yesterday filed a fresh bail application requesting that he be released on bail taking into consideration the legal and facts of the case as exceptional circumstances.

Weerawansa was arrested by the FCID on January 10 under Public Property Act charges.

On January 24, the Magistrate refused to enlarge the former Minister on bail observing that the evidence presented before Court have proved that former Minister Weerawansa had intentionally given these vehicles to his close relatives and his party activists while they were not holding any position at the SEC.

The Magistrate further observed that it is apparent that the former Minister has intentionally and dishonestly misappropriated these vehicles by entrusting them to his close relatives and party activists.

On March 24, the Colombo High Court had also dismissed a revision application filed by Wimal Weerawansa challenging Fort Magistrate’s order to refuse bail.

However, the defence had denied the allegations and informed Court that the FCID is conducting a politically motivated inquiry to punish the government’s political opponents. 


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