Namal Rajapaksa To Be Held in Custody Until October 29, Over Airbus Bribery Case

COLOMBO (News 1st): Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today ordered that MP Namal Rajapaksa be held in custody until October 29, in connection with the alleged acceptance of a Rs. 100 million bribe linked to the Airbus aircraft procurement deal.

He was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today in a case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Namal Rajapaksa, who had been in remand custody, was brought to court by prison officials this morning.

During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, informed the court that the Chief Justice had approved the appointment of a permanent three-judge High Court bench to hear the case against Rajapaksa over the alleged bribery in the Airbus deal.

The Deputy Solicitor General also informed the court that indictments had been filed against Rajapaksa before the permanent three-judge High Court.

After considering the submissions, the Chief Magistrate ordered that Namal Rajapaksa be produced before the permanent three-judge High Court tomorrow and remain in custody until Thursday.