Court blocks CID investigation into Rajapakse bank account

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 September 2005, 02:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Wednesday issued interim order preventing the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police from conducting investigation into the "Helping Hambantota" Bank Account, legal sources in Colombo said. The Chief Justice made the order when the Fundamental Rights Violation Application filed by Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, Prime Minister and ruling party presidential candidate came up for inquiry.

The Supreme Court put off further inquiry into the FR application for January 7 next year, legal sources said.

CID has been conducting inspection into the Helping Hambantota bank account following the order by the Colombo Fort Magistrate last week.

The petitioner Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse cited Mr.Chandra Fernando, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Lionel Gunatilake, Deputy Inspector General of Police who is in charge of the CID investigation, Mr.P.Ampawila, Inspector of Police in CID branch, Mr.Kabir Hassim, United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian and the Attorney General as respondents in his application, legal sources said

Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse in his petition said the CID has commenced investigation into a complaint by UNP MP Mr.Kabir Hassim based on a report published in a opposition party newspaper without any foundation. The petition further said that the investigation will damage Mr Rajapakse's reputation, legal sources said.

President Counsel Mr.D.S.Wijesinghe with Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardene and Mr.Priyantha Jayawardene appeared for the petitioner.

President Counsel Tilak Marapane with President Counsel Mr.Shibly Aziz and Mr.Daya Pelpola appeared for the fourth respondent Mr.Kabir Hassim.

Mr.Palitha Fernando, Deputy Solicitor General with State Counsel Mr.N.D.P.Nawana appeared for the fifth respondent Attorney General, and for the first, second and third respondents IGP, DIG and IP, legal sources said.