Former MP Sajin Vass Remanded Until April 2

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today ordered former Member of Parliament Sajin Vass Gunawardena to be further remanded until April 2 in connection with an investigation into the alleged accumulation of assets through unlawful means.

The order was made when the case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

Presenting facts on behalf of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the investigating officer told court that the suspect had been arrested and remanded over allegations of acquiring assets amounting to Rs. 243.6 million during the period from March 31, 2013, to March 31, 2014, without being able to satisfactorily account for the source of income.

The officer further informed court that during the period when the suspect served as a monitoring MP, he had undertaken several overseas trips with family members, and had failed to clearly explain the funds used to finance those travels.

The court was also told that large financial transactions had been detected in a private bank account held in the name of the suspect’s wife, and that investigations into those transactions were ongoing.

In addition, the Bribery Commission informed court that the suspect had commenced a business in 2013 on a plot of land measuring approximately 3,000 square feet at the Colombo Racecourse, and that it was suspected around Rs. 40 million had been spent to acquire the land.

The investigating officer said a statement recorded from the suspect’s wife had revealed information regarding assets that had not been disclosed by the suspect. Citing the need for continued investigations, the officer requested that the suspect be further remanded.

After considering the submissions, the Chief Magistrate rejected the bail application made on behalf of the suspect and ordered that Sajin Vass Gunawardena be remanded until April 2.