හොරණ මහජන බැංකු සහකාර කළමනාකරු සේප්පුවෙන් මුදල් ගත් අයුරු උසාවියේදී දිගහැරේ

Horana Chief Magistrate Lakmini Vidanagamage ordered the remand of the bank's assistant manager, who was arrested in connection with the disappearance of over three and a half crore rupees from the People's Bank in Horana, until the 23rd of next month. The individual remanded was 54-year-old Nandana Sarath Kumara, who had been questioned by the police under a detention order.

Regarding this incident, the police, presenting facts in the Horana court yesterday (9), stated that although it was claimed that money was taken out of the bank's safe around 8:00 AM on the day in question, investigations confirmed that the money had not been taken for deposit into Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) until 1:30 PM. Officers from the Western Province North Intelligence Criminal Investigation Division informed the court that a report on the bank's operational procedures has been requested, and steps will be taken to prosecute the suspect under the Public Property Act.

These investigations commenced following a complaint made by an individual regarding a financial irregularity at the bank. The police also stated that the security officer, who was arrested as the second suspect in this case and remanded on the charge of not informing senior bank officials about the process of transporting money to ATMs, is scheduled to be produced before the court on June 11th. Furthermore, the police have taken steps to withdraw a drug-related case filed against the suspect assistant manager under Section 54.

The Magistrate ordered the police to check if the serial numbers of the banknotes reportedly taken to the ATMs match the serial numbers of the money found in the bank's strongroom and to submit a report on it. She further ordered that the security camera footage related to the disappearance of this money be presented to the court.

Attorneys Thushara Gunaratne and Ranjan Haputhanthri, appearing in court on behalf of the suspect assistant manager, requested the court to issue an order to the police to submit a summary report of the evidence against the suspect. They also requested clarification on the legal provisions under which he is expected to be prosecuted. Attorney Hemantha Wickramarachchi appeared on behalf of the bank, and the police informed the court that a summary report of evidence would be provided in due course. The case involving the suspect assistant manager is scheduled to be recalled on the 23rd.