Embilipitiya Chief Magistrate Thilina Mahesh Peiris today ordered the remand of former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Minister Athula Kumara Rahubaddha until October 2, following his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for allegedly misusing state funds amounting to Rs. 70 million.
Rahubaddha, a resident of Gonakumbura, Welimaluwa Junction, Lellopitiya, surrendered to the Financial and Criminal Investigation Divisions through his lawyer during an ongoing investigation to apprehend him. After recording his statements, CID officers produced him before the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court.
Investigators informed the court that the former minister was arrested under Sections 386, 389, and 400 of the Penal Code, read with Section 5(1) of the Public Property Act and Sections 102 and 113(a) of the Penal Code. They alleged that Rahubaddha conspired to cause financial losses to the government by failing to implement road projects allocated to the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Roads Ministry in 2016–2017, despite the Embilipitiya Pradeshiya Sabha being designated as the implementing agency.
