The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today ordered the remand of three suspects, former Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa’s son, Attorney-at-Law Rakhitha Rajapaksa; Samagi Jana Balawegaya Organizer Charith Abeysinghe; and Warusha Hannedige Aruna Sri Chathuranga, a former Director of Airports and Aviation Services Ltd, until July 3.
The three suspects were arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 120 million from organized criminal Nadun Chinthaka, alias “Harak Kata.”
They were arrested at three separate locations this morning and later produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
During the court proceedings, counsel appearing for the suspects informed the court that two of them were suffering from serious medical conditions.
Senior Counsel Anil de Silva, appearing for Rakhitha Rajapaksa, told the court that his client suffers from sleep apnea, a condition that causes breathing interruptions during sleep.
Meanwhile, counsel for Charith Abeysinghe informed the court that his client is a heart patient who has already undergone the implantation of three stents and is scheduled to receive five more. The lawyer further stated that Abeysinghe suffers from several serious health conditions typically associated with advanced age.
The arrests stem from an investigation launched on March 4, 2024, following an anonymous complaint received by the Bribery Commission.
According to submissions made by the Commission, investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly demanded Rs. 500 million from Harak Kata in exchange for preventing his transfer from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to a prison other than the Boossa High Security Prison and for facilitating his release from ongoing investigations.
The Commission further informed the court that the demand was later made from Harak Kata’s wife, Madushika Madhuwanthi, while she was in Dubai in 2023. The amount was subsequently reduced to Rs. 200 million, of which Rs. 120 million was allegedly paid as an advance.
After recording their statements at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the three suspects were produced before court.
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