Court rejects bail to Karuna Amman

A Sri Lankan court yesterday rejected granting bail to the former LTTE leader turned deputy minister of the former Sri Lankan government Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman who was arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID) of the Police last week.

Karuna Amman was arrested when he arrived at the FCID on November 29 to record a statement over financial irregularities reported during his tenure in the previous United People’s Freedom Alliance led government.

The former deputy minister was alleged of misusing state vehicles.

The FCID had commenced an investigation after they discovered a super luxury bullet proof vehicle valued at approximately Rs 90 million from Batticaloa which is suspected to have been used by former Minister Muralitharan. The vehicle did not carry a number plate at the time it was seized.

At the same time, the FCID informed Courts that the investigation with regard to the incident had not been completed.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya rejected bail for the former deputy minister and scheduled the case to be taken up for consideration again on December 7.