AG seeks permission to consider bond scam at Permanent High Court

Colombo (News 1st): The Attorney General has sought permission from the Chief Justice to forward indictments against the accused in the February 27th 2015 Central Bank Treasury Bond Issue, to the Western Province Permanent High Court Trial at Bar. The 10 accused are; Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, Ex-Central Bank Deputy Governor P. Samarasiri, Perpetual Treasuries Limited, PTL Beneficial Owner Arjun Aloysius, PTL CEO Kasun Palisena, Jeffery Joseph Aloysius, Pushya Gunawardena, Ranjan Hulugalla, Muthuraja Surendran and Ajahn Punchihewa. According to Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, The AG has sought permission considering the nature and the circumstances, the gravity and the complexity of the case and the economic impact it had on the state. The accused are charged with ;

1. Conspiracy to commit criminal misappropriation in respect of Treasury Bonds to the face value of 10.058 Billion Rupees against all suspects.
2.  Criminal Breach of Trust in respect of Treasury Bonds against the 1st and second suspects and causing a loss to the government to the sum of 688 Million Rupees.

The Attorney General will accordingly present the indictments once the directive is received from the Chief Justice on the 23 counts involving 07 charges against the accused. The charges were presented under the Public Property Act and the Registered Stocks and Securities Ordinance.