Former Customs Director General Jagath Wijeweera and former Customs Additional Director General Tharaka Seneviratne were yesterday granted bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake.
The suspects were accused of unlawfully releasing 8 kg of gold to the Navy to construct a golden Samadhi statue inside the Sandahiru Maha Seya.
They were released on a cash bail of Rs.25,000 and two sureties of Rs.5,000,000 each. The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on them.
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) yesterday informed court that the Attorney General had instructed them to initiate legal action against the suspects under the Public Property Act for committing criminal breach of trust.
When the magisterial inquiry commenced into the matter, the Magistrate stated he came to the conclusion that he needs to clarify several information relevant to the case.
The Magistrate inquired the FCID, under which legal provisions, the gold had been kept in the customs vault for a long time. The Magistrate further queried under which legal provisions the custom had released the gold. What is the procedure they have followed to release such items? the Magistrate further questioned.
The Magistrate fixed further inquiries for November 26.
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