High Court fixes August 31 for pre-trial conference as prosecution prepares its case against Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest
COLOMBO – The money-laundering case against Yoshitha Rajapaksa and his grandmother Daisy Forrest is moving anotherstep towards trial, with the Colombo High Court fixing August 31 for a pre-trial conference in the case involving nearly Rs.59 million.
The Attorney General alleges that funds amounting to approximately Rs.59 million were deposited into bank accounts in circumstances where the accused knew, or had reason to believe, that the money had been unlawfully acquired.
The allegations remain to be proved in court, and both accused are entitled to the presumption of innocence.
The significance of the latest development lies less in the allegations themselves – which have been public for some time – and more in where the proceedings are now heading.
A pre-trial conference is intended to identify the matters actually in dispute, deal with procedural issues and prepare the case for an efficient trial. It therefore marks another step away from investigation and indictment and towards the actual trial process.
State Counsel has informed court that the prosecution expects at the August 31 conference to state its position concerning Forrest and also notify court regarding proposed amendments to the indictment.
That could make the August 31 proceedings particularly important in determining precisely what case ultimately proceeds before the High Court.
For years, investigations involving politically prominent figures have generated headlines at the point of arrest, questioning or indictment. The more important test, however, comes afterwards: whether the judicial process moves efficiently towards determination.
In this case, that machinery is now beginning to turn.
NEWSLINE WATCH: August 31 – what amendments are made to the indictment, what position does the Attorney General take regarding Daisy Forrest, and when will the substantive trial begin?
