The Fort Magistrate Court acquitted former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Engineer Mohamed Yaseen and Accountant Mano Ranjan from the case of misappropriation of 9.5 million rupees. The Attorney General informed the Fort Magistrate Court in writing of his position regarding the case on the 05th that he could not proceed with the case against the said three. The investigations against Rishad Bathiudeen were initiated by the CID based on the complaint filed by Akmeemana Dayaratna Thera on 20.12.2019.
The amount was used for providing C.T.B.-owned transport facilities from Puttalam to the Silavathurai area to 12,000 displaced voters, who were residing in the Puttalam district to vote in the 2019 presidential election. These investigations were conducted regarding the transportation of 12,000 displaced voters in 222 buses belonging to the CTB. An amount of 95 lakhs of money allocated by the government for the resettlement of long-term displaced persons under the then Ministry of Rishad Bathiudeen had been used for this purpose. When the Secretary of the Ministry raised the question in this regard, the CID informed him that an unregistered non-governmental organization had repaid the sum on 21.11.2019, however, Rishad Bathiudeen was arrested under the Misuse of Public Property Act on October 19, 2020.
The then Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera had given permission to take appropriate steps through the Secretary to the Ministry. In this situation, President’s Counsels Anil Silva, Anuja Premaratne, K.V.
In these circumstances, when the case came up for hearing yesterday, the Senior lawyer Rushti Habib appeared in the court on behalf of the three. Then the court announced the release of the three based on the written decision of the Chief Justice.
