MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake and his former secretary have been granted bail in four bribery cases filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), following an order issued by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (23).
However, the court rejected their bail applications in a separate bribery case involving phosphate export licences and ordered that both suspects be further remanded until November 6.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the orders after considering submissions made by the Bribery Commission and the attorneys representing the suspects.
Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered that each suspect be released on two surety bonds of Rs. 1 million each, separately applicable to each of the four cases. Overseas travel bans were also imposed on both suspects.
Three of the cases relate to allegations that Dassanayake accepted bribes from gem businessmen to allow them to continue their businesses without interference during his tenure as State Minister of Primary Industries.
According to the Bribery Commission, the first case involves allegations that Dassanayake demanded Rs. 1.2 million from one gem owner and obtained Rs. 500,000 as a bribe.
The second case concerns allegations of demanding and accepting Rs. 1 million from another gem owner, while the third involves an alleged bribe of Rs. 200,000 from another gem owner.
The Bribery Commission informed the court that Liyanarachchige Sumathipala Liyanarachchi had been named as the second suspect in the proceedings.
The court granted bail to the suspects in these three cases and one additional bribery case, with all four cases scheduled to be taken up again on January 26.
Meanwhile, in the separate phosphate export licence case, Dassanayake and his former secretary are accused of accepting bribes amounting to Rs. 8.1 million from three private companies in connection with issuing licences required for phosphate exports, and aiding and abetting the alleged offence.
The Magistrate rejected their bail applications in this case and ordered that both suspects remain in remand custody until November 6. (Newswire)
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