SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, arrested yesterday (04) by the Bribery Commission (CIABOC) after giving it a statement in connection with the purchase of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines, has been remanded until 18 September.
800,000 USD changed hands
The Commission, together with the CID made a lengthy investigation and reported to Colombo chief magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama how bribe money given by Airbus Company had been circulated.
Making submissions on behalf of the attorney general, deputy solicitor general (DSG) Janaka Bandadara said the money had first been credited to the account of Biz Solution in Singapore, registered in Brunei and owned by Priyanka Neomali Wijenayake, former SriLankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena’s wife.
From that, 800,000 US dollars had been transferred to an account of a Singaporean company chaired by businessman Nimal Perera who lives in Australia.
As per the exchange rate at the time, money amounting to Rs. 100 million had then been handed over during 2014-15 to Rajapaksa, according to a sworn affidavit handed to CIABOC by Perera, said the DSG.
Perera gave a statement to the investigators in Australia, where he sought refuge reportedly due to threats to his life.
Int’l evidence and email messages
The complaint said the probe, backed by Australia, Singapore, France and the US as well as Airbus company, whose officials visited Sri Lanka four times to testify in addition to handing over the deal’s internal documents, bank reports and email messages, is in its final stage.
Additionally, Rs. 25 million had been credited from the Biz Solution account to an account owned by Shamindra Rajapaksa, a former SriLankan director board member, who is presently in the US.
Argument by defendant & credibility of evidence
Appearing for the MP, president’s counsel Sampath Mendis filed a bail application saying the arrest was based purely on a statement given by Perera, with neither Airbus officials nor French investigators saying Rajapaksa was bribed.
Claiming how Perera made contradictory statements during the Krrish case hearing, the lawyer said it was unfair to remand his client based solely on a statement given by a person rejected by the CID in 2019.
He asked that Rajapaksa be released on any bail condition.
Magistrate’s order
After considering the submissions, the magistrate said that in light of the CIABOC’s director-general’s statement being not challenged, bail can be given under exceptional circumstances only.
The credibility of a witness could be determined by way of cross-examining at a court hearing only, he said, ordering the remanding of the suspect.
The CIABOC was ordered to submit a brief of statements given by Airbus officials at the next hearing.