The Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake yesterday(26) ordered for the court registrar to send an order to the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickramaratne  to take necessary measures to re-assign the two police officers who had previously handled former Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga's case. Accordingly, Chief Police Inspector Nihal Francis and SSP Pavithra Dayaratne were ordered to be re-assigned , as it was they who conducted investigations into the matter for over 5 years. The Magistrate had also noted that the Acting IGP had not responded to a query from him as to why the two police officers were removed from the case. CID officials representing the Police said they were unaware of the reason, and hence the Magistrate directed that the Acting IGP be queried once again on why the two police officers were not present in court. The Magistrate added that the court be informed if the officers were transferred. Weeratunga is facing charges of money laundering and misappropriation over his alleged involvement in the 2006 purchase of four MiG 27 aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force. The Fort Magistrate refused bail and re-remanded the former Ambassador to Russia until 11 March, after Police filed a certificate in Court confirming the offence committed by the latter is of a value of more than Rs. 25,000.