Colombo High Court releases Daisy Forrest from money laundering charges after a psychiatric evaluation finds her unfit to stand trial, marking a dramatic turn in the high profile Yoshitha Rajapaksa case.
The Colombo High Court has ordered the release of Daisy Forrest, grandmother of Yoshitha Rajapaksa and a key accused in the controversial money laundering case, following the submission of a special psychiatric report.
Ms. Forrest had been charged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with the ongoing Yoshitha Rajapaksa case. However, proceedings took a decisive turn after the court called for a medical assessment to determine whether she was mentally fit to face trial.
The psychiatric evaluation was conducted by the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer, and the report was presented to court by Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara. Addressing the bench, the Deputy Solicitor General informed the court that the medical recommendations clearly stated the accused was not mentally fit to stand trial at this time.
After considering the findings of the psychiatric report and the submissions made, the presiding judge ruled that Daisy Forrest should be acquitted of the charges brought against her under the money laundering legislation.
The decision effectively removes her from the legal proceedings in the high profile financial crimes case, which has drawn significant public attention due to its political context and links to the Rajapaksa family.
The ruling highlights the legal principle that an accused person must be mentally competent to face criminal trial, reinforcing due process within Sri Lanka’s judicial system.
