19 March 2022 12:00 am Views - 137
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda
The Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau conducting investigations into the questionable last will of late Miss Ceylon Jennifer Ingleton has informed court that they are expecting to seek the Attorney General’s advice regarding ongoing investigations into the incident.
The Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau made these remarks when the magisterial inquiry into this incident came up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Nelundeniya.
Meanwhile, the prosecution officers of the Fraud Bureau produced reports pertaining to Finger Print impressions purportedly been placed by the late Mrs. Jennifer Ingleton nee LaBrooy on the purported last will and certain other relevant documents.
Defence Counsel Chamin Jayasinghe appearing for the suspect (Sujeewa Jayathilaka) made an application stating that Sujeewa Jayathilaka’s sister was murdered recently and that he is in a state of shock and is scared to attend Court Proceedings. He said the suspect requires that his presence be dispensed with for the next couple of months.
Senior Counsel Ian Fernando appearing with counsel Ushira Dharmaratne instructed by Derek Fernando Associates appearing for the aggrieved party Anthony Hawke, being the step-brother of Mrs. Ingleton who is presently residing in London made an application in reply to the Defence Counsel’s application, requesting the Court to have the said suspect’s passport confiscated, considering that if he absconds, the case shall become nugatory.
However, the Additional Magistrate declined the request stating that if the suspect leaves the country the suspect shall not be able to maintain the District Court Testamentary case filed by him.
However, Senior Counsel Ian Fernando remarked that the suspect need not be present in Sri Lanka to proceed with the case as he is able to utilise a Power of Attorney to ensure that the case proceeds without him. Nevertheless, the Additional Magistrate declined to have the suspect’s passport confiscated since the investigations have not been concluded.
On a previous occasion, the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau had given an undertaking to produce a medical report in order to ascertain the medical capacity of Mrs. Ingleton when she signed her questionable last will.
Further magisterial inquiry was fixed for April 5.