Court assistant remanded over Rs 750,000 bribe to reduce Sarana Gunawardena’s sentence
COLOMBO – A Colombo High Court office assistant has been arrested and remanded over allegations that he accepted Rs 750,000 to arrange a suspended prison sentence for former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, who was convicted on 18 charges relating to the misuse of vehicles belonging to the board and sentenced to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The office assistant was arrested on Tuesday (8) by investigators attached to the Commission to Investigation Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and was subsequently produced before court, which ordered that he be remanded in custody.
The arrest was carried out following an investigation launched into a complaint made by Colombo High Court Judge Rashantha Godawela, before whom the case involving the former deputy minister is being heard.
Investigators told court the office assistant had contacted the judge by telephone and attempted to discuss a case. Reportedly he had obtained the Rs 750,000 bribe from the wife of the former deputy minister.
According to investigators, WhatsApp messages and receipts relating to the alleged transfer of funds have been recovered as part of the inquiry.
Gunawardena is facing a separate corruption case over allegations relating to the leasing of a property in the Madiwela area for use by the Development Lotteries Board during his tenure as its Chairman between 2006 and 2007.
–ENCL
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