Money Laundering Case Against Yoshitha to Proceed in August

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo High Court today fixed August 31 for a pre-trial conference in the case filed against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, and his grandmother, Daisy Forrest, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The order was issued when the case was called before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.

During the proceedings, State Counsel Oswald Perera informed court that the prosecution was seeking a date for a pre-trial conference and requested appropriate directions from the court.

The State Counsel further informed court that the prosecution expects to announce its position regarding the second accused, Daisy Forrest, on the next date and also intends to notify amendments to the indictment.

After considering the submissions made, Judge Singappuli ordered that the case be called on August 31 for the pre-trial conference.

The case has been filed alleging that the accused committed offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by depositing more than Rs. 59 million into fixed deposit accounts maintained in three private bank accounts during the period between March 31, 2009 and December 12, 2013.

According to the indictment, the funds in question could not be satisfactorily explained in terms of their source of income, leading to the filing of money laundering charges against the defendants.