The two persons, who have been charged with bringing down foreign currency to Sri Lanka in a suspicious manner and illegally purchasing lands belonging to a private hospital in Colombo and several properties from various areas in the country, were released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne yesterday.
The remanded suspects were identified as Rienzie Mahesh Edwards and his spouse Punya Priyanji Manike Edwards.
The first suspect was released on a cash bail of Rs.50,000 and three sureties of Rs.2,000,000 each. The second suspect was released on a cash bail of Rs.50,000 and two sureties of Rs.2,000,000 each. The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on them and ordered to hand over their passports to the court. The Magistrate further ordered the suspects to report to the Financial Crimes Investigations Department on every Sunday of each month.
The FCID had previously made submissions to the Court, following an order issued by the IGP on July 29, five years ago. The FCID had earlier stated that they had launched a probe into the incident, following information that had come to light, that the two suspects, having brought in a sum of Rs 2.6 billion in a suspicious manner, had purchased a land at 37, Horton Place, Colombo 7 owned by a private hospital.
Considering a request made by the FCID, the Magistrate issued an order directing the Manager of the People’s Bank in Kadawatha to submit bank details pertaining to the second suspect.
The Magistrate fixed further inquiries for September 03.
from daily news