Special Court to Rehear Public Property Charges In 2016 Bond Scam

COLOMBO (News 1st); In line with the order issued by the Supreme Court yesterday (1), the Attorney General’s Department states that a new Trial-at-Bar will be appointed to recommence proceedings under the Public Property Act in relation to the 2016 Central Bank bond scam.

It has been revealed that three new Trial-at-Bar panels are expected to be appointed, with this case scheduled to be heard before one of those courts.

The case, which was previously being heard before a Trial-at-Bar, was halted in 2021 after the court considered preliminary objections raised by the defence.

The objection argued that since Perpetual Treasuries is a company involved in the transactions, legal action could not be instituted against a company under the Public Property Act.

However, following an appeal filed by the Attorney General, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a company can, in fact, be prosecuted and tried under the Public Property Act.