Indictment served on Sajin for money laundering

• Released on a cash bail of Rs. five hundred thousand
• investigation had revealed that Mr. Gunawardena owned a group of 21 companies
• Alleged suspicious deposits of a total of Rs. 306.286 million through several of his companies
• Also Deposited Rs. 458,747,757 in the accounts of  seven of the 21 companiesb

By T. Farook Thajudeen  

The Colombo High Court yesterday served indictments on former Parliamentarian Sajin Vaas Gunawardena on alleged money laundering charges amounting to some Rs. 306 million during his tenure as a Parliamentarian.   

Following the serving of indictment he was released on a cash bail of Rs five hundred thousand with two sureties for Rs five million each.  

He was indicted by the Attorney General under Section 3 [1] [a] of the Money Laundering Act for alleged suspicious deposits of a total of Rs. 306.286 million through several of his companies.   

 The indictment was served on him before High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunge.  

He was indicted in the High Court following an inquiry conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department based on a complaint received on February 2, 2015.  

 The investigation had revealed that Mr. Gunawardena owned a group of 21 companies named COSMOS at the time of his handing over nominations for the 2010 Parliamentary Elections.  The investigation had revealed that even though Mr. Gunawardena resigned from the Directorship of those companies after becoming an MP, he  had effectively run the full operation of those companies,..  

 It was also revealed that Gunawardena had made suspicious transactions through seven of the 21 companies by allegedly depositing Rs. 458,747,757 in the accounts of those companies.  

 Further it was revealed that Gunawardena had brought in cash asking to deposit it in the accounts of his companies and had withdrawn them from those companies, without any legal right to do so.  

 The disparity between the total sum of deposits of his and his wife’s incomes, including company drawings he had made illegally has been identified as Rs. 306,268,194.  
The trial was fixed for October 1.      

Investigation revealed even though Mr. Gunawardena resigned from Directorship of those companies after becoming an MP, he effectively run the full operation