S’pore to update on Mahendran’s extradition in a fortnight

The Singaporean authorities are expected to inform their Sri Lankan counterparts in two weeks on the extradition of former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, which was requested by Sri Lanka earlier this year.

The Singaporean Attorney General (AG)’s Department is in the final stages of considering a request sent by the Sri Lankan Government to extradite Mahendran, Cabinet co-spokesman Ramesh Pathirana said yesterday. 

In September, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry forwarded the extradition request from the Government of Sri Lanka, seeking the extradition of former Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran, to be delivered to the relevant authorities in Singapore. 

The 21,000-page dossier, inclusive of certified copies pertaining to the case, statements of witnesses etc. was dispatched to the Sri Lanka High Commission in Singapore, to be handed over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs there.

The extradition request was signed by former President Maithripala Sirisena before it was dispatched to Singapore. 

Mahendran, who is the former Governor of the Central Bank under whose tenure the bond scam took place, has been absconding since he was named a suspect in the case. He is a Singaporean citizen.

Indictments were filed against Mahendran and nine others before the Permanent High Court at Bar in June this year, but Mahendran and another suspect are absconding.