Lalith Kotelawala in court this week |
After spending nine months in remand at the Welikada magazine prison in connection with the alleged misappropriation of the deposits of failed Golden Key (GK) Credit Card Co., Ceylinco Chairman Lalith Kotelawala on Thursday was wheeled out a free man and immediately transferred to a private hospital in Colombo.
He had been earlier given bail under strict conditions by the three member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shirani Thilakawardane on October 23.
Mr Kotelawala left the prison on Thursday evening after fulfilling all the bail conditions, a senior official of the Welikada prison told the Sunday Times FT.
The Supreme Court directed the suspect’s release in the Ceylinco Shriram case at the Fort Magistrate Court and GK fraud case at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate Court under similar bail conditions. Ceylinco deputy chairperson Padmini Karunanayake was also release on bail under similar bail conditions.
On Tuesday, Mr. Kotelawala ‘s lawyers deposited cash bail of Rs. five million along with Rs 100 million certified bail with five sureties who are tax payers.
The main suspect filed an affidavit undertaking to comply with bail conditions including not to utilize a green card or any other travel document, visa and passport to travel outside Sri Lanka and hand over all his travel documents to the Supreme Court and to remain within the jurisdiction of the Western Province.
He also assured full disclosure of his assets held here and abroad. President of the GK Depositors Association Anusha Emmert said they have no grudge against Mr Kotelawala or other Ceylinco directors or its employees and their struggle was to get their money back soon as most of them are living in dire straits. |
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