Bank accounts of Udayanga’s relatives to be probed | Daily News

Bank accounts of Udayanga’s relatives to be probed

The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday issued an order directing managers of 46 financial institutions to release transaction details of 19 bank accounts belonging to six relatives of Udayanga Weeratunga including his wife and mother-in-law be provided to the FCID for their investigations.

State Counsel Udara Karunatilleka appearing on behalf of FCID informed court that Udayanga Weeratunga who is currently being detained under UAE federal judicial custody will have to face an extradition trial on September 10.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate had issued an open warrant written in English through the Interpol for the arrest of former Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga.

Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne had made this order pursuant to a request made by FCID citing that he is continuously evading courts.

The FCID conducting investigations into the MiG aircraft transaction had named Udayanga Weeratunga as a suspect in the case through a B report filed in the Fort Magistrate’s Court.

The Court was informed through the FCID that INTERPOL had issued a ‘Red Warrant’ on Udayanga Weeratunga, naming him as a fugitive wanted by the Sri Lankan authorities.

The FCID had informed Court that Udayanga Weeratunga had directly intervened into the questionable transaction in procuring MiG-27 ground attack crafts. The FCID said the deal amounted to US$14 million.

On June 9, 2016 the Colombo Fort Magistrate had issued notices on Udayanga Weeratunga to appear in Court July 15 but he did not turn up. Thereafter, on October 20, 2016 court Had issued a warrant for the arrest of UdayangaWeeratunga.

The FCID had told Court that they were investigating whether the former Sri Lankan ambassador in Russia had invested money in a company called Sri Lankan Limited Liability Company in Moscow, which were earned through the Mig-27 transaction.

The FCID named several foreign nationals and foreign companies as suspects regarding this case.The FCID launched this investigation following a complaint lodged by defence columnist and political writer Iqbal Athas.

 

 

 


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