'Detained LTTE chief KP owns 5 ships, 600 bank accounts'

COLOMBO: Detained LTTE chief Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias KP owns five ships and 600 unidentified bank accounts which are sought to be frozen, a senior Sri Lankan minister said on Wednesday.

KP, who was was arrested overseas and brought to Colombo in August this year, is considered to be a key custodian of slain LTTE Supremo V Prabakaran's wealth.

During interrogation KP had revealed the existence of five ships out of which efforts are on to seize three of them with process being initiated, Defence spokesman and senior cabinet minister Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters.

Rambukwella said the questioning also brought to light the presence of 600 unidentified bank accounts.

"We want to get these account frozen," he said while stating the details of the accounts were not known.

Rambukwella said the government was also exploring the possibility of converting the assets and properties of KP into state properties. He said discussions were on with the Attorney General on the issue.

Besides being wanted in connection with Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the role of KP is also being determined over his involvement in the Sri Lankan Central Bank bombing in 1996 and arms procurement operations oversees for terrorist activities in Sri Lanka.