රක්ෂිත බන්ධනාගාරගත කෙරුණු හොරණ සමගි ජන බලවේගයේ ආසන සංවිධායක චරිත් අබේසිංහ, හිටපු අධිකරණ අමාත්ය විජයදාස රාපක්ෂ මහතාගේ පුත් නීතීඥ රඛිත රාජපක්ෂ හා සිවිල් ගුවන්සේවා අධිකාරියේ හිටපු අධ්යක්ෂවරයෙකු වන අරුණ වරුණහැන්දිගේ කොළඹ රිමාන්ඩ් බන්ධනාගාරයේ රදවා සිටිනවා. ඔවුන් ඊයේ රාත්රි 7.30 ට…
The remanded Horana Samagi Jana Balawegaya Electoral Organizer Charith Abeysinghe, former Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rapaksha's son Attorney-at-Law Rakhith Rajapaksa and former Director of the Civil Aviation Authority Aruna Warunahandige are being held at the Colombo Remand Prison. The Prisons Department said that they were brought to the prison at around 7.30 last night. The suspects Charith Abeysinghe, Attorney-at-Law Rakhith Rajapaksa and Aruna Warunahandige were arrested yesterday by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption in connection with an investigation into the alleged bribery of an organized criminal named Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne alias Harak Kata. Subsequently, the suspects were produced before the Colombo Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon. The court ordered that the suspects be remanded until the 3rd. Presenting the suspects to court, the Assistant Director General of the Bribery Commission, Ms. Anusha Sambandhapperuma, stated before the court, “The Bribery Commission initiated this investigation based on an anonymous complaint received by the Lord. During this investigation, a telephone conversation was found. The telephone conversation took place between Charith Abeysinghe, who is named as the first suspect, and a person named Herbi, who is said to be a friend of Harak Kata, who is in custody. There, the suspect Charith Abeysinghe states that what happened to Makandure Madush could happen. Therefore, Harak Kata’s DO can be removed and he can be sent to a prison that is suitable for his life instead of being sent to Boossa Prison. The suspect also states that necessary relief can be provided for that. This Herbi lives in Dubai. Later, he informed Madushani, Harak Kata’s wife, who is in Dubai, about this matter. Later, on March 25, 2023, the suspects including Rakhitha Rajapaksa leave for Dubai. In Dubai, these suspects meet Harak Kata's wife at the house of a man named Harbi. A person named Midigama Ruwan also attends the event. As previously informed, these suspects demand a sum of Rs. 50 million to remove Harak Kata's DO and provide him with the necessary security. Later, the amount is reduced to Rs. 30 million. At that time, Harak Kata's wife states that she cannot give that much money. Accordingly, the amount is reduced to Rs. 20 million. Thereafter, these suspects demand an amount of Rs. 12 million as an advance from that amount. Harak Kata's wife agrees to give that amount. Accordingly, Harak Kata's wife gives ten million rupees on one occasion and another two million the next day. This money was given in dirhams. This matter is currently under investigation. "This has also been confirmed by the statement given by the person named Midigama Ruwan, who is in custody. We will soon submit his affidavit to the court in this regard. Similarly, a person named Nirmala Bandara alias Herbi has also given statements confirming this matter," said the Assistant Director General. The Assistant Director General further stated, “After receiving this money, Harak Kata’s DO will not be removed and he will not be transferred to another prison as promised. Therefore, Harak Kata’s wife, Harbi, is being pressured to return the money. Accordingly, he informs Charith Abeysinghe in this regard. There, the suspect states that he can give about two hundred million and that he is unable to give the rest of the money. Accordingly, these suspects have given the relevant money to Lasantha Wickramasekera alias Midigama Lasa, who was recently murdered. Later, a written complaint was submitted to the IGP in this regard. It was after this that the Bribery Commission commenced this investigation. A statement has not yet been taken from Harak Kata’s wife, Madushani, regarding this incident. Information has been received that she is living in Indonesia. She has also agreed to assist in the investigations. Also, these suspects left Sri Lanka for Dubai on March 25, 2023 and returned to Dubai on March 29, 2023. "It has been confirmed from the records of the Immigration and Emigration Department that he arrived in the island yesterday," he said. After that, President's Counsel Anil Silva, who appeared for the suspect Rakhitha Rajapaksa, presented the facts before the court and said, "My client is a lawyer by profession. He has to appear in a case in this court tomorrow as well. Therefore, he will have to appear in that case from remand." At that time, the Magistrate, who raised a question, asked, "Why does this suspect have to come from prison tomorrow?" In response, the President's Counsel said that if this suspect is remanded today, he will have to come to this court tomorrow from prison. After that, President's Counsel Anil Silva, who provided further information, said, "Since my client is a lawyer, he has a large number of cases in various courts. If he is remanded, a situation will arise where he will not be able to appear in those cases. I request that this be considered as a special case when applying for bail. In addition, he has a medical condition called "Sleep Apnea". I will also submit medical reports confirming this to the court. It is not appropriate for a person with that medical condition to remain in prison. Therefore, there may even be a risk to his life. I request that my client be granted bail considering all these facts as special cases," the President's Counsel said. Thereafter, the lawyer appearing for the suspect Charith Abeysinghe presented the facts before the court, saying, “Your Honor, these suspects have been arrested based on the statements given by individuals who are in custody on serious criminal charges. It is not appropriate to restrict a person’s freedom based on the statements given by such individuals. My client is a person suffering from a heart condition. He has had four stents inserted. Five more are to be inserted. He has unfortunately contracted all the diseases that are expected after the age of 60.” Therefore, the lawyer requested the court to consider these as exceptional circumstances and grant bail to the suspect. Thereafter, lawyer Geeth Karunaratne, appearing for the third suspect, Aruna Warusha Hannadige, presented the facts before the court and alleged that the Director General of the Bribery Commission had submitted a certificate against this suspect with the aim of preventing his release on bail. He also pointed out that the Director General of the Bribery Commission does not have the authority to submit a certificate in relation to such an incident. He also requested the court to release his client on bail, considering those facts as exceptional facts. The Magistrate, after considering all the facts presented, announced his order, “An argument was raised that the certificate of the Director General of the Bribery Commission submitted against these suspects was against the law. I reject that argument. Accordingly, the court decides that the certificate of the Director General of the Bribery Commission is legal. Also, separate reports were submitted regarding the medical conditions of these suspects. Those reports did not provide specific information about those medical conditions. Therefore, those medical reports cannot be considered as exceptional facts.” Under these circumstances, the Magistrate ordered that the suspects’ bail applications be rejected as they have failed to present exceptional facts to obtain bail. Accordingly, the Magistrate, who ordered the suspects to be remanded until July 3, also ordered that steps be taken to provide them with the necessary security in prison. The post Charith and Rakhitha remanded to Colombo Prison – How they struck a deal with the cattle dealer is revealed appeared first on Neth News.