Update :Arrest of Yoshitha
Strong Objections from Yoshitha’s council
Mr. Rajapaksa was arrested in Beliatta early yesterday morning by the CID and brought to their headquarters in Colombo, where a detailed statement was taken from him. He was later taken to the residence of the additional magistrate.
Seeking bail, President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, who represented Mr. Rajapaksa alongside attorneys Waruna Jayasinghe and Manoj Gamage, argued that the investigation was related to a complaint filed in 2017. He pointed out that the owner of the property in question was also a suspect in the case, and had been arrested previously, granted bail, and appeared in court as required.
Counsel Mendis explained that the case had been closed but was reopened recently, leading to Mr. Rajapaksa’s arrest. He emphasized that Mr. Rajapaksa had been arrested multiple times during the Yahapalana government and was granted bail on every occasion without violating any bail conditions.
He further told the court that Mr. Rajapaksa resides in Dehiwala and had been in Beliatta for a wedding when he was arrested. Mendis added that his client would have willingly appeared at the CID headquarters had he been summoned.
The CID, however, strongly opposed the granting of bail, arguing that investigations were still ongoing.
After considering the facts, the additional magistrate ordered that Mr. Rajapaksa be remanded until the following day.
Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s arrest followed instructions from the Attorney General, who directed the CID to take legal action against him for acquiring property through illegally obtained assets. These instructions came after the CID submitted its findings on Mr. Rajapaksa’s activities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The Attorney General also indicated that the CID could take action against Mr. Rajapaksa’s grandmother, Daisy Frost, on charges of aiding and abetting the crime.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who was arrested AT Beliattha has been remanded until January 27 by the Colombo Additional Magistrate.
He has been arrested for case that has been pending for a very long time. According to the Attorney General, there is sufficient evidence for arresting Yoshitha Rajapaksha and nameing him as a respondent in a land case valued at Rs. 34 million.
The case involves Daisy Forest , alias ‘Daisy Achchi’, of Sirimal Pedesa in Ratmalana.
Money laundering
Previously Yoshitha was remanded for a alleged money laundering charge amounting to Rs. 365 million under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The investigation centered on Carlton Sports Network (CSN), a sports channel alleged to have irregularities in its financial dealings. The FCID, after raiding the company’s offices, reportedly unearthed documents, emails, and other evidence suggesting that Yoshitha served as the channel’s chairman and primary decision-maker. Police sources revealed that significant attention had been paid to the source of the network’s funding, leading to the charges filed.How ever it seems that cas has been dragging on for a long time.
The time lag, raisers serious concerns regarding the efficiency and credibility of the criminal justice system of the country.
Earlier this month, the CID questioned Yoshitha regarding a house constructed on a state reservation in Kataragama. He had reportedly disowned the property
Ms. Daisy Frost and the Bag of Gems
Investigators in the case have raised questions about how Ms. Daisy Frost, the grand Aunt of Namal Rajapaksa, acquired millions of rupees to purchase several parcels of land that were later added to property owned by Yoshitha Rajapaksa. It has been revealed that Ms. Daisy Frost was never a taxpayer.
Minister Nalinda Jayahissa had mentioned in a public meeting years ago a popular saying, “It’s like the bag of gems, Daisy Achchi,” referring to an saying that gained attention.
When Ms. Frost was questioned about how she obtained the millions to purchase the valuable land in Dehiwala, she allegedly stated that some individuals had first given her a bag of gems. A few days later, they returned, collected the bag, and gave her a large sum of money in exchange.
The ongoing investigations will determine whether Ms. Frost’s statement was genuine or if it is just an urban myth
Anura Kumara Dissanayaka’s comments on Yoshitha and Rohitha while in the Opposition-
