President’s former chief of staff and former chairman of State Timber Corporation re-remanded

They were arrested in connection with accepting a bribe of 20 million rupees from an Indian company.

The magistrate gave this order when the suspects were produced before court today (22).

Lawyers who represented the Bribery Commission has said that the two suspects must be presented to Government Analyst’s Department and obtain a report on their voices. They have further requested for a court order to present the suspects to Government Analyst’s Department on an agreed day. The defense lawyer has said that there is no provision in the penal code which allows that type of a test.

Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake has mentioned that he will announce a decision at the next court hearing, after studying the aforementioned request.

A tender with regard to purchasing necessary equipment for Kantale sugar factory had been initially granted to a company called Meerigama Lanka Industries – a lawyer who represented the company said. According to him, although the ministerial approval had been granted to give it for 540 million rupees, I.H.K. Mahanama, the then secretary of the Land Ministry, intervened and prevented it. He has requested to join the court procedures since the aforementioned company too has been affected by this incident.

The magistrate, who considered this request, asked him to go to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and provide any information they may have.