The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption informed court that former Parliamentarian and former Chairman of the National Housing Development Authority, R. Duminda Silva, has been named as a suspect in connection with an alleged bribery incident involving Rs. 15 million.
The Commission made these submissions when producing before court a suspect, Mohomad Mohideen Sapras Nawaz, who was arrested over the incident.
Court was informed that the suspect had allegedly accepted Rs. 5 million to secure bail for a suspect known as “Dematagoda Ruwan,” who is alleged to be a large-scale drug trafficker arrested over illicit earnings. The Commission further stated that the bribe money had allegedly been obtained with the knowledge of R. Duminda Silva during his tenure as Chairman of the National Housing Development Authority. It was also revealed that another suspect who had allegedly received Rs. 10 million in connection with the incident is now deceased.
After considering the submissions, the Chief Magistrate directed the Bribery Commission to conduct further investigations into R. Duminda Silva, who has been named as the second suspect, and to report the facts to court. The suspect produced before court was ordered to be remanded until March 13.
During further submissions, the Commission stated that “Dematagoda Ruwan” had been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department following an investigation by the Illegal Assets Investigation Division. It was alleged that the bribe money had been obtained from Ruwan’s son, Tharindu, to prevent the arrest of Ruwan’s family members and to facilitate bail for Ruwan.
The Commission informed court that after meeting complainant Tharindu, R. Duminda Silva had allegedly instructed him to meet the suspect produced before court to make arrangements for securing bail, following which the money was handed over.
Appearing for the suspect, counsel Nisith Abeysooriya submitted that if money had been received, it had been handed over to a lawyer for the purpose of obtaining bail. He further stated that Ruwan is currently out on bail and that another case is pending against him. Counsel also informed court that the complainant had previously withdrawn a complaint when the matter was earlier taken up.
When questioned by the Magistrate about the withdrawal of the earlier complaint, the Commission stated that it had been withdrawn due to threats faced by the complainant. The Commission added that subsequent investigations led to the identification and arrest of the suspects.
The Magistrate also inquired whether investigations had been carried out regarding the claim that the money had been handed over to a lawyer. The Commission responded that the statement had been made only recently and that a statement from the lawyer concerned is yet to be recorded.
After considering the submissions of both parties, the Chief Magistrate ordered that the suspect be remanded until March 13. The court further directed the Bribery Commission to file a summary of evidence against R. Duminda Silva and to record a statement from the relevant lawyer and submit it to court.
