Though given bail, Mahindananda inside ... because no passport

Though given bail, Mahindananda inside ... because no passport

According to the case filed against former chairman of Sathosa, Nalin Fernando by the Bribery Commission for having engaged in causing a loss of Rs. 53,113,975.17 to the State by importing fourteen thousand checkerboards and carrom boards on four occasions for selected schools and sports societies

by former Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage contacting former Sathosa chairman Nalin Fernando over the telephone in which instance the latter was taken into custody recently. In the process, Mr. Mahindananda Aluthgamage was arrested for purposes of interrogation today by the Police Financial Crimes Division.

Whatever it is, after being produced before Fort magistrate Lanka Jayaratna today 16th though he was granted bail, he was not able to release him from bail as his passport has vanished. As he was unable to furnish bail requirements the lady magistrate ordered that he be remanded. Thus the former Minister was ordered to be released on cash bail of Rs. 35,000 and two sureties of Rs. 5 lakhs each, barring overseas travel. Accordingly though it was necessary that he had to furnish his passport to courts, he was not in possession of it today. Though his lawyers said that he had handed over his passport to Colombo High Courts in respect of another legal case, it was not possible to furnish relevant documents to confirm it and as a consequence since he was unable to fulfill bail conditions, he was thus remanded. He was remanded for having misappropriated State funds amounting to Rs. 53,113,975.17 by purchasing checkerboards and carrom boards during the Presidential period in the year 2014.