Permanent high court mulls issuing arrest warrant for Arjuna Mahendran

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Permanent High Court Trial at Bar will deliver its ruling on issuing a warrant for the arrest of former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, the first accused in the Central Bank Treasury Bond Scam, on the 09th of August. Attorney General Dappula de Livera requested court on the 19th of July, to issue a warrant for the arrest of Mahendran who failed to appear in court as per a court order delivered earlier. The Permanent High Court Trial at Bar ordered the AG to make the request seeking an arrest warrant via an affidavit today(July 24). The court ordered for summons to be sent via the Justice Ministry Secretary to Ajahn Gardiya Punchihewa, the 10th accused in the case, who is currently in Singapore. The Attorney General was ordered to present facts on serving summons to Ajahn Gardiya Punchihewa on the 17th of September. The Attorney General filed a case under the 23 separate indictments against 10 accused including - Beneficial Owner Perpetual Treasuries Limited Arjun Aloysius, Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and PTL Chairman Geoffrey Joseph Aloysius for causing a loss of Rs 688mn to the Government at the Bond Auction on the 27th of February 2015. The case was taken up before the Permanent High Court Trial at Bar comprising justices, Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne, and Champa Janaki Rajaratna.