Former Rajapaksa Staffer Released On Bail as Probe into Assets Continues

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Personal Secretary to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and current personal secretary to Namal Rajapaksa, Sanjaya Vishnu Ravindra, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on allegations of possessing assets allegedly derived from criminal activity, was released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

The Chief Magistrate ordered the suspect to be released on two surety bails of Rs. 1 million each and also imposed an overseas travel ban.

Producing the suspect before court, officers of the Bribery Commission stated that, acting on a complaint received on October 16 and a warrant issued by a Bribery Commissioner, a search had been carried out at the suspect's residence, during which a secure safe kept inside a cupboard was taken into custody.

Officials informed court that the suspect had been arrested and produced before court under Sections 7 and 15 of the Proceeds of Crime Act on allegations of possessing property suspected to have been derived from criminal activity.

Investigating officers told court that, under the provisions of the relevant law, a suspect must be produced before court within 72 hours of arrest and appropriate orders obtained to facilitate further investigations. They also requested the court to issue an investigation order under the provisions of the Act.

Here's a translated extract of the submission made by the Investigating Officer:

"Your Honour, at around 10.00 p.m. last Friday, we searched the suspect's residence. We requested that he open the safe found inside the house, but the suspect stated that he could not remember the code as the safe had been locked for about five years. Subsequently, both the suspect and the safe were taken into custody. After the safe was brought to the Bribery Commission, it was opened by a technician in the suspect's presence.

Inside were Rs. 1.805 million in cash, eight anklets believed to be made of gold, and a wristwatch valued at approximately Rs. 800,000. When questioned about the money, the suspect stated that Rs. 1.5 million had been placed in the safe after the sale of a vehicle about one-and-a-half years ago. He further claimed that Rs. 350,000 belonged to his mother and father.

However, there are inconsistencies in the statements made by the suspect. Investigations into the matter are continuing. Releasing the suspect on bail may hinder the investigation. Therefore, we request that the suspect be remanded until investigations are concluded."

Counsel for the suspect, President's Counsel Sampath Mendis, made submissions seeking bail.

Here's a translated extract of the submission made by President's Counsel Sampath Mendis:

"My client was not investigated as a heroin, cannabis or narcotics trafficker. He was arrested because he serves as Namal Rajapaksa's secretary. Investigating officers arrived at my client's residence at around 10.00 p.m. Armed with a search warrant, they searched the house until around 4.00 a.m. but were unable to find anything. It was only thereafter that they took custody of the safe.

There may well have been inconsistencies in my client's initial statement. He did not remember the exact date on which he sold the vehicle because the transaction had taken place some time ago. However, he later went home, checked the documents and provided a corrected statement to the Bribery Commission. The vehicle was worth approximately Rs. 11 million. It was sold for Rs. 7 million, and Rs. 1.5 million from that amount was placed in the safe. The wristwatch is a valuable gift he received from a former girlfriend.

Your Honour, my client is willing to fully cooperate with any investigation. I respectfully request that he be released on bail under appropriate conditions."

Having considered the submissions, the Chief Magistrate ordered that the suspect be released on bail.

The case is scheduled to be called again on December 18.