Thabugala acquitted in Rs.70 million helicopter fraud case after Attorney General says no legal basis to continue proceedings.
Thabugala acquitted in the Rs. 70 million helicopter transaction case after the Attorney General found no legal basis to continue criminal proceedings.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Darshima Premaratne today, May 22, ordered the release of Viranjith Thabugala, Chairman of Aura Lanka company.
The case had been filed by the Criminal Investigation Department over an alleged financial fraud of Rs. 70 million connected to a helicopter purchase transaction.
The Magistrate stated that, according to instructions received from the Attorney General, there was no legal basis to maintain a criminal case against the suspect.
Accordingly, the court ordered that Thabugala be acquitted from the case.
The court also took steps to lift the travel ban imposed on him with immediate effect.
Attorney Upali Jayamanna, appearing for Thabugala, submitted to court that the allegation was baseless and had been filed as an act of vengeance.
He further argued that the legal action had been orchestrated by a group of powerful politicians at the time due to personal grudges held against his client.
In connection with this series of events, Viranjith Thabugala had previously given a confidential statement before the Magistrate.
