The Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court yesterday (11) ordered the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) to release the ‘Ford Mustang’, which was allegedly owned by MP Namal Rajapaksa, to its current owner.

Accordingly, the said car was today (12) released to its current owner after two years.

The FCID had seized the car in question on 5th September 2016, while it was parked at a house in Kaduwela, alleging that MP Namal Rajapaksa had transferred the car to another party after using it for five years.

The Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court had granted permission to the FCID to carry out investigations into the imported car and its ownership after the FCID presented submissions before the court regarding the seized Ford Mustang.

Subsequently, the FCID recorded statements from MP Namal Rajapaksa and the current owner of the Ford Mustang.

MP Namal Rajapaksa had reportedly stated that the car was purchased using the duty-free vehicle permit.

However, he had sold the car to a woman named W.M. Shanthini in 2016 for Rs 8.5 million, after using the car for five years.

The FCID informed the court that W.M. Shanthini had failed to reveal as to how she acquired the expenditures to purchase the car in question.

Taking into consideration a request made by the current owner of the car, the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court issued an order yesterday to the FCID to release the seized Ford Mustang, as the FCID has not named any suspects related to the case so far.

Accordingly, the current owner of the Ford Mustang, W.M. Shanthini arrived at the FCID this afternoon (12) at around 2.30 p.m. to reclaim the car.