Keheliya granted bail in ‘Sandagala’ theft case

Glocal
By Editor_1
Former minister of health Keheliya Rambukwella was arrested by officers of the Criminal Investigations Department on February 2, 2024, over the controversial procurement of a consignment of substandard intravenous human immunoglobulin (IVIG) when he was Minister of Health -File

COLOMBO – A Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (18) released former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on bail after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested him over allegations that he abused his official position to protect his son from an investigation into the theft of a historic archaeological artefact known as the ‘Sandagala’.

Rambukwella was arrested on Monday (17) and produced before Colombo Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama, who ordered his release on two personal sureties of Rs 1 million each and directed him to surrender his passport to court.

CIABOC officers told court that Rambukwella’s son, Ramit Rambukwella, had stolen the historically significant artefact with the assistance of several individuals.

The Sandagala, a carved granite ‘moonstone’ associated with the palace of Sri Lanka’s last Sinhala king, Veera Parakrama Narendrasinghe, was allegedly removed in December 2022.

According to CIABOC, investigations into the theft were initially conducted by the Kandy Criminal Investigation Division and the Criminal Investigation Department.

The anti-corruption commission alleged that Rambukwella subsequently summoned several senior police officers to his official residence and questioned them about the investigation.

The officers included the then Senior Superintendent of Police in Kandy, the Officer-in-Charge of the Kandy Criminal Investigation Division and the Officer-in-Charge of the Pallekele Police Station, CIABOC told court.

The officers allegedly informed the former minister that the CID was conducting an investigation into the incident.

CIABOC further alleged that Rambukwella subsequently contacted then Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the CID Prasad Ranasinghe to inquire about the investigation.

According to the commission, the former DIG allegedly assured Rambukwella that his son would not face consequences over the incident.

CIABOC said no statement was recorded from Ramit Rambukwella, despite the investigation, while police were also allegedly prevented from searching the former minister’s residence after receiving information that the stolen Sandagala was there.

The commission further alleged that Rambukwella later asked one of the suspects in the case whether two or three people could be produced as responsible for the theft so that the case could be concluded, offering to bear the associated expenses.

According to CIABOC, the suspects were subsequently produced before court, fined Rs1,500 each and the proceedings were brought to an end.

The prosecution argued that Rambukwella had abused his position as a minister to protect his son from allegations relating to the theft and requested that he be remanded.

Appearing for Rambukwella, Attorney-at-Law Kanchana Ratwatte told court that there were already 13 cases involving his client and that Rambukwella and members of his family had provided statements to CIABOC on 81 occasions.

Counsel argued that this demonstrated that Rambukwella had not attempted to evade the courts or the anti-corruption commission and requested that he be released on bail.

After considering the submissions, Magistrate Bodaragama ordered Rambukwella’s release, ruling that sufficient grounds had not been presented to justify his remand.

CIABOC has also filed a separate case against Rambukwella, alleging that he abused his power while serving as Minister of Mass Media by employing six additional workers at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation despite an approved cadre already being in place, and using them as his personal staff.

In that case, the Chief Magistrate ordered Rambukwella’s release on two personal sureties of Rs 5 million each.

Rambukwella is also facing a separate and ongoing case relating to the procurement of counterfeit medicines while he was serving as Health Minister.

In that case, prosecutors allege that he was involved in the procurement of a cancer drug for state hospitals that was later found to be substandard.

Several other former health ministry officials have also been implicated in the alleged drug procurement fraud.

–ENCL

Editor_1
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