Trial fixed against Emil Kanthan for fund misappropriation

By T. Farook Thajudeen

The Colombo High Court earlier this week fixed for 17 March the trial for the prosecution to lead evidence against accused Emil Kanthan in his absence.  

High Court Judge W. A. Kaluarachchi made this order upon considering the submissions made by Deputy Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda appearing for the prosecution on the public funds misappropriation and LTTE funding case filed against former parliamentarian Tiran Alles, LTTE fund raiser Emil Kanthan and two other directors of Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA), Dr. Rohan Saliya Wickramasooriya and Jayantha Dias Samarasinghe.

Defending Alles, Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty PC submitted that the prosecution had listed computer evidence to lead during the trial against his client but the prosecution had not given an opportunity to the defence to examine the computers.

The counsel said the defence had taken this issue as a preliminary objection and asked to record it.

The prosecution moved to issue summons on one to six witnesses ordered to appear before court on 17 March to lead evidence during the trial.

The accused were indicted in the High Court on seven charges over the financial fraud caused for an estimated Rs. 124 million to the Government by causing a breach of trust to public money by misappropriating public funds during the period 6 December 2006 to 8 February 2009.