Former Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, who was arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), has been remanded until August 01.
The former Minister was arrested on charges of misappropriation of Divi Neguma funds earlier on Monday (19). He was remanded after being produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate, Ada Derana reporter said.
Basil Rajapaksa’s lawyer, Jayantha Weerasinghe, told Reuters police had taken his client to court regarding the supply of building materials to district councils when he was a minister. “There is nothing illegal and it is an utterly false allegation,” Weerasinghe said. Neither Basil Rajapaksa nor his family members were immediately available for comment.
Rajapaksa and three other senior ministry officials were also arrested on April 22, 2015 in connection with a complaint alleging financial fraud in the Divi Neguma Department, which came under the purview of the Economic Development Minister.
Rajapaksa, who left the country for the US on 11 January, 2015 following the defeat of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the January Presidential Election, returned to the island on April 21, 2015.
(With inputs from Reuters)
