Businessman Gehard Mendis, the virtual complainant in the alleged extortion case filed against the three accused including Gampaha District Parliamentarian Prasanna Ranatunga and his wife yesterday informed the Colombo High Court that Prasanna Ranatunga demanded money after threatening him not to get on the wrong side with him .
The Attorney General (AG) had filed indictments against former Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, his wife Maureen Ranatunga and another person on the charge of threatening a businessman demanding the rest of money out of Rs. 64 million.
When the case came up before Colombo Chief High Court Judge Champa Janaki Rajaratne, the witness said the former Chief Minister who visited his office threatened him demanding the rest of money.
An audio recording pertaining to a threatening telephone call alleged to have been made by former Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga demanding money in the land deal was played in open court yesterday as well. Further trial was fixed for June 28.
Prosecution evidence was led by Deputy Solicitor General Thusith Mudalige and Senior State Counsel Shavindra Wickrema.
President’s Counsel Anil Silva with counsel Mary Dickmon appeared for the accused.
On a previous occasion, the Colombo High Court decided to proceed with the trial against Gampaha District Parliamentarian Prasanna Ranatunga and his wife in absentia of third accused Naresh Kumar Fareek who was evading courts from the beginning of the investigations. MP Prasanna Ranatunga and his wife are currently on bail.
The Attorney General filed indictments on 15 counts against three accused Prasanna Ranatunga, Maureen Ranatunga and Naresh Kumar Fareek based on charges of committing offences between April 6, 2015 and June 2, 2015.
In addition, the AG has named 65 witnesses and included 35 articles as court productions against three accused in this case.
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