Perpetual CEO ordered to delete phone records

Tuesday, 5 September 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The presidential commission inquiry into questionable bond transactions took a fresh turn yesterday with Perpetual Treasuries Chief Dealer Nuwan Salgadu admitting he was instructed to delete phone recordings by Perpetual Treasuries CEO Kasun Palisena.

Salgadu, during cross questioning by officials of the Attorney General’s Department, acknowledged that he was told to erase phone records that could incriminate the beleaguered primary dealer. When asked whether he was aware that it was wrong to tamper with the data, Salgadu noted that he had known it was wrong but denied that he had been aware it was unlawful.

Responding to questions he also said he believes Perpetual Treasuries Ltd. owner Arjun Aloysius was aware of the order by Palisena to delete the records.

During the testimony legal counsel for Perpetual Treasuries Nihal Fernando PC told the three commissioners that despite a request for all information to be handed over to him it was evident from the testimonies that had not happened. Fernando therefore added he would consider withdrawing his representation of the primary dealer.

In response Commissioner Jayawardena called on Fernando to reconsider withdrawing representation given his seniority in the field to which Fernando said he would announce his decision within the week, possibly on Wednesday.

The computer technology officer of Perpetual Treasuries Sachin Devathanthri last week admitted that he had erased as many as 100 phone records in four CDs what were handed over to the Presidential Commission as evidence. In his statement he attributed this to instructions received by Salgadu.

In response Senior Deputy Solicitor General (SDSG) Dappula de Livera had called on the Presidential Commission to order the CID through the IGP to arrest Salgadu on the charge of having intentionally destroyed evidence connected to the ongoing bonds probe.

He told the commission that as per clause 189 of the Penal Code, any act of willful destruction of evidence related to a case was punishable in a court of law. Thus, he urged the commission to order the IGP to inform the CID to arrest the suspect as there was proof to suggest that Salgadu had purposely destroyed evidence.