The Attorney General today opposed Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader MP Udaya Gammanpila’s request that he be allowed to travel Italy between October 17 and November 4 to attend a function.
MP Gammanpila whose passport was impounded by Court for allegedly cheating Rs. 20 million following his alleged fraudulent share transaction, sought Colombo High Court’s permission to temporary lift his travel ban.
Deputy Solicitor General Dilan Ratnayake appearing for the Attorney General informed Colombo High Court Judge R. Gurusinghe that defiance’s request cannot be considered at this juncture since court had unable to conclude recording evidence from Australian businessman Brian Shaddick, the key witness of the case.
"It would be unfair to the aggrieved party, if court allowed the accused to go abroad without concluding his evidence, who has come all the way from Australia," Mr. Ratnayake said.
The High Court is to consider MP Gammanpila's request on next trial date.
Australian businessman Brian Shaddick, 74, the first witness in the alleged financial fraud case is to be further cross-examined on October 17.
The Attorney General (AG) alleged that MP Udaya Gammanpila has misappropriated Rs. 20 million when selling the shares of Digital Nominees to businessman Dhammika Perera.
The AG further charged that the alleged business transaction had taken place using a fraudulent power of attorney to sell the shares belonging to Australian businessman Brian Shaddick. The AG has listed 20 persons as witnesses in the case and named 16 documents as production items of the case. MP Gammanpila was arrested in this regard on June 18, 2016. He is currently out on bail.
Deputy Solicitor General Dilan Ratnayake, with Senior State Counsel Nayana Seneviratne appeared for the Attorney General.
President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando with Jayantha Weerasinghe PC appeared for MP Gammanpila
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