Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka who was arrested in connection with a case where he had allegedly caused a motor accident in 2016 in which a youth was critically injured, was yesterday ordered to be further remanded till December 24, by Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana Neranjana de Silva.
On the instructions given by the Attorney General, the Colombo Crimes Division arrested former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka at his residence and produced him before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on December 18.
When the matter came up before the court, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris appearing on behalf of the Attorney General informed court that the Colombo Crime Division had submitted extracts of the investigations to the Attorney General. “While observing the case record, the Attorney General identified MP Patali Champika Ranawaka as the main suspect of this incident”.
Delivering a lengthy submission regarding the incident, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris further told Court that investigations had revealed that there was an involvement of Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara and several senior Police officials into this accident.
Explaining the incident which happened in 2016, DSG Dileepa Peiris stated that the victim motor bike rider is now disabled. “This was a Hit and run incident. The suspect minister Champika Ranawaka had allegedly left the victim on the road and another two bike riders who were with the victim during the accident had followed the suspect’s vehicle. Two bike riders had caught up with the vehicle in the Borella area and they had opened the left side door of the vehicle. After that, the driver of the vehicle had identified himself as Patali Champika Ranawaka. The two motor bike riders had asked to confirm the identity of the suspect. The suspect had not confirmed his identity and he had fled from the place,” the DSG also stated.
DSG Dileepa Piries also stated that above mentioned two motor bike riders had gone to the Rajagiriya Police Station to lodge a complaint against the suspect. A person who claimed to be the driver of Patali Champika Ranawaka’s vehicle, Thusitha Dilum Kumara at the time of the accident had surrendered to the Borella Police. However, the Borella and Rajagiriya Police had recorded statements from Patali Cahmpika Ranawaka’s driver. DSG Dileepa Piries also stated that two motorbike riders were forced to kill time for about two hours at the Rajagiriya Police Station.
DSG Dileepa Piries further said the court case had been reopened by the Attorney General considering the charges of hit-and-run, producing an imposter as his driver and withholding information.
“Police filed a case against Patali Champika Ranawaka’s in the Colombo Traffic Court in 2016. The two motor bike riders had submitted affidavits stating that Patali Champika was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident. However, Police officials attached to the Rajagiriya Police Station had intentionally removed the name of the main suspect of the case and produced false information to court,” DSG Dileepa Piries further pointed out.
Investigations had revealed that suspect Patali Champika Ranawaka had damaged a state vehicle at the time of the incident. The suspect had been driving a vehicle belonging to Ministry of Power and Energy. The suspects had served as the Minister of Power and Energy during that time period.
DSG Dileepa Peiris said that the damage of the state vehicle was estimated at Rs.900,000 and the former minister had allegedly misappropriated state funds to recover that amount.
DSG Dileepa Piries also stated that they will take necessary steps to file indictments against the suspect in the near future. Chargers have been filed against the suspect under the Public Property Act and Section 101, 113, 110, 400, 402 and 403 of the Penal Code.
DSG Dileepa Piries said the person who claimed to be the driver of Patali Champika Ranawaka was absconding and the Police will take the necessary steps to arrest him. President’s Counsel Anuja Premarathne appearing on behalf of the suspect stated that the charges filed against his client were bailable offences. PC Anuja Premarathne further stated that the Attorney General’s Department officials are trying to fulfill a sardonic pleasure and Police can’t be a rubber stamp for the court.
President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne also informed the Court that during previous case the aggrieved party had received a fair judgement from the Traffic Court Magistrate. Responding to President’s Counsel Anuja Premarathne’s submission, DSG Dileepa Peiris said that the AG’s Department is appearing on behalf of the victim, the system and the state. “This was the beginning of a huge conspiracy and we cannot waste public funds in this manner,” he said.
The Magistrate fixed the bail order for December 24.
UNP MP’s Harsha de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Harin Fernando, Ravi Karunayake and several political activists were present in court yesterday.
Add new comment