Thursday Oct 15, 2026
Thursday Oct 15, 2026
Thursday, 15 October 2026 06:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Colombo High Court Judge Buddhika C. Ragala has enlarged on bail Jiffry Mohamed accused in a money laundering case having considered the submissions made on behalf of the accused and the submissions of the Counsel for the State.
The accused was released on cash bail on 8 October in a sum of Rs 25,000 with two sureties in a sum of Rs. 1 million each. Counsel for the accused Priyantha Nawana PC appearing with Shafi Hussain, Dinali Siva instructed by Asanka Perera submitted that this matter is coming for order following submissions for bail made by senior Counsel M. M. Zuhair PC on the previous date.
Counsel Nawana submitted that Court has the power to grant bail under section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act read with the Bail Act. The accused, it was submitted, has no previous conviction of the commission of any offence whatsoever.
State Counsel Oswald Perera objecting to bail submitted that investigations are ongoing with regard to this accused and enlarging him on bail at this stage could affect the investigations. Court held that indictment has been filed on the basis that investigations into this case have been concluded and made order enlarging the accused on cash bail with two sureties in the High Court case.
The indictment filed in this case alleges that the accused had committed offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of ‘unlawful activity’ namely offences including ‘trafficking in drugs’ in violation of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Act. Written Submissions filed on behalf of the accused in the connected case in the Negombo Magistrate’s Court has stated that there is no evidence or allegation before Court that the accused had trafficked and/or possessed any quantity of any drug at any time and that he is a trusted businessman maintaining a good record within the business community, handling large volume of advance payments in rupees for importers of goods from overseas exporters and that he himself is not an importer.
Following a further report filed by the Negombo Headquarters Police that there is no new material disclosed against the suspect, the Negombo Magistrate had on 15 September 2026 discharged Jiffry Mohamed from further proceedings in the alleged drug case.
