Who Received the Airbus Money? Nimal Names Namal

COLOMBO (News 1st); Namal Rajapaksa, who has been named a suspect in the money laundering case linked to the controversial Airbus Scandal, was today ordered by the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court to remain in remand custody until September 23.

The MP had previously been remanded until September 18 in connection with a separate case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption relating to the same transaction.

The money laundering case filed by the Criminal Investigation Department against Namal Rajapaksa and three other suspects was taken up before Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena.

Namal Rajapaksa was brought to court from remand prison in a prison bus.

Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara informed court that extracts of the investigation had already been forwarded to the Attorney General's Department and that steps were being taken to file indictments against the suspects without delay.

Here's An Extract Of The Submissions Made In Court By Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara:

"A statement was recorded from the suspect inside prison on Monday. This investigation concerns allegations of bribery in connection with the procurement of 16 wide-body aircraft under an agreement entered into between France-based Airbus and SriLankan Airlines.There is a separate investigation being conducted under bribery laws in relation to this matter, and that case has resulted in the suspect being remanded until September 18 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court. However, the case before this court has been filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Previously, there was no legal authority under the Bribery Act to investigate offences relating to money laundering. However, under the newly enacted Anti-Corruption Act, those powers are now available to the Bribery Commission as well. Accordingly, this is a joint investigation being conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the Bribery Commission."

The Deputy Solicitor General further told court that businessman Nimal Perera, through sworn affidavits, had disclosed that Namal Rajapaksa received US$800,000 as a bribe in connection with the transaction.

Here's An Extract Of The Submissions Made In Court By Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara:

"In this disputed Airbus transaction, Airbus paid a bribe amounting to €1.454 million to Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, the wife of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena. The money was first deposited into an account belonging to Biz Solutions Inc. at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore. Funds from that account were subsequently transferred to an account held at OCBC Bank in Singapore in the name of Saber Vision Holdings Limited, a company chaired by Nimal Perera. Nimal Perera has refused to return to Sri Lanka, citing death threats. However, in a sworn affidavit, he states that US$800,000 received from the Biz Solutions account was transferred to an account belonging to his company. He further states that this money was ultimately received by this suspect. In other words, according to Nimal Perera's statement, approximately Rs. 100 million was paid to Namal Rajapaksa. Investigations have also revealed that €160,400 was transferred from Priyanka Niyomali's Biz Solutions account in Singapore to an account belonging to Shamindra Rajapaksa, son of former Minister Chamal Rajapaksa. These are facts uncovered during the investigation."

The court was also informed that investigators had uncovered email communications allegedly exchanged between Namal Rajapaksa and Airbus officials during a forensic investigation carried out with international assistance.

Here's An Extract Of The Submissions Made In Court By Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara:

"Officials from Airbus have travelled to Sri Lanka on several occasions and provided statements regarding this matter. During the forensic investigation, we were able to recover email communications exchanged between Airbus officials and the suspect. Those emails reveal the manner in which the suspect acted in relation to this transaction."

The Deputy Solicitor General strongly objected to granting bail to the suspect.

Here's An Extract Of The Submissions Made In Court By Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara:

"The first suspect in this case is deceased, and investigations are still ongoing to determine whether the death was a suicide or natural. The second suspect, Priyanka Niyomali, is currently in Australia and has not yet been brought before Sri Lankan authorities. The third suspect, Shamindra Rajapaksa, is in the United States and is the subject of a Red Notice. He has also filed revision applications before the High Court regarding this matter.This is the situation surrounding the suspects in this case. In addition, witnesses are afraid to come forward and testify because they fear for their lives. Therefore, the prosecution strongly objects to granting bail to this suspect at this stage."

Appearing for the suspect, President's Counsel Anil Silva sought bail and rejected the prosecution's arguments.

Here's An Extract Of The Submissions Made In Court By President's Counsel Anil Silva:

"My client is an active politician engaged in politics within Sri Lanka. One cannot engage in Sri Lankan politics by living abroad. Any suggestion that he is likely to leave the country is purely speculative. The prosecution also claims that my client would influence witnesses if granted bail. Would any sensible person who has gone through the process of obtaining bail then risk interfering with witnesses? Certainly not. If this court grants bail, we will not engage in any conduct that would violate the bail conditions because we are fully aware that such actions could result in those conditions being revoked and my client being remanded once again."

After considering the submissions made by both parties, the Fort Magistrate ordered that MP Namal Rajapaksa be further remanded until September 23.

The Magistrate also indicated that a decision regarding bail would be delivered on that date.