Court Demands FIU Appearance Over Bond Scam Silence

COLOMBO (News 1st); Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali issued an order to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, instructing them to appear in court on December 11.

This directive was issued due to the FIU's failure to submit account reports related to the ongoing investigations into the Central Bank bond scam, despite previous court orders.

A complaint filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding the incident was taken up again today (12) before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Seven suspects, including Arjun Aloysius, a director of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., who is currently out on bail, appeared before the court.

A CID investigation officer informed the court through a report that the Central Bank had not responded appropriately to the court orders issued earlier.

President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing on behalf of the suspects, stated that the case was initially taken up in November last year.

He further noted that the court had ordered the Central Bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit to submit the relevant account reports of the companies involved.

The President’s Counsel emphasized that even after nine months, there had been no proper response to the court’s directive. He urged the court to consider an appropriate decision if the complainant is not interested in pursuing the case further.

He also pointed out that the suspects are already facing charges before a High Court Trial-at-Bar in connection with the same incident.

After considering the facts, the Chief Magistrate ordered that an officer from the Central Bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit must be present in court on the next hearing date.

The suspects in this case include Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., its director Arjun Aloysius, former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, and four others.