What Happens Next in Namal's Airbus Scandal Case?

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today ordered to release on bail Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, who had been remanded in connection with the money laundering case linked to the Airbus Scandal.

The order was issued when the case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena.

Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered that the suspect be released on a cash bail of Rs. 500,000 and two personal bails of Rs. 100 million each. The Court also imposed a foreign travel ban on the suspect.

The Magistrate further directed the suspect not to influence witnesses in any manner.

When the case was previously taken up, the Magistrate directed the prosecution to provide clarifications on three specific matters.

These included whether the case before this Court and the bribery case currently before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court would be consolidated;

whether steps would be taken to transfer this case to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court; and

whether the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had submitted a certificate under Section 149 of the Anti-Corruption Act in relation to the bribery case filed before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court concerning the same incident.

Accordingly, when the case was called today, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, appearing on behalf of the Criminal Investigation Department, made submissions before Court in response to those directions.

Here's An Extract Of The Submission Made By Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara:

“Your Honour, no decision has yet been taken regarding the consolidation of this case and the case pending before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. Therefore, there is no requirement to transfer this case to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. These are two separate investigations conducted by two different agencies in relation to the same incident. Further, the suspect has already been produced before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in the bribery case together with a certificate issued by the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. Therefore, special circumstances are required for him to obtain bail in that case. Even yesterday, the suspect failed to present any exceptional circumstances in support of bail, and as a result he was remanded again in that case. As far as I am aware, the Bribery Commission has completed its investigation under the Anti-Corruption Act. Likewise, the Criminal Investigation Department has completed the money laundering investigation pending before this Court. The investigation files and extracts in both matters have now been forwarded to the Attorney General. Accordingly, the Attorney General is currently considering the filing of a consolidated indictment covering both cases.”

President’s Counsel Anil Silva, appearing on behalf of the suspect, once again sought bail for Namal Rajapaksa.

Here's An Extract Of The Submission Made By President’s Counsel Anil Silva:

“Your Honour, my client poses no flight risk. What has happened to him is a consequence of his involvement in politics. My client has absolutely no need to influence a witness in this case, namely Nimal Perera, because Mr. Perera and my client have long been at odds. There are no factual grounds under the Bail Act to continue denying the suspect bail. Even if he secures bail in this case, he will continue to remain in remand in relation to the other matter. Therefore, I respectfully request that the suspect be released on suitable bail conditions.”

After considering the submissions made by both parties, the Magistrate delivered his order on the bail application and directed that the suspect be released on bail.

The case was fixed for October 14.