Former Minister Jagath Pushpakumara, who was arrested earlier today (08) by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged corruption-related offences, has been released on bail.
He was produced before the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court, which ordered his release on two surety bails of Rs. 500,000 each.
Pushpakumara was taken into custody at around 9:20 AM following an investigation into several alleged irregularities involving state-owned plantation companies during election periods.
According to CIABOC, the former minister is accused of directing the Chilaw Plantations Company and the Kurunegala Plantations Company to print 250,000 posters and leaflets during the 2014 Uva Provincial Council election, claiming they were intended for public awareness campaigns on government development projects. The commission alleges the move caused the two companies to incur losses exceeding Rs. 2.66 million.
He also faces allegations relating to the 2015 Presidential Election, where he is accused of facilitating the purchase of 5,000 sarong and T-shirt sets and 5,000 skirt and blouse sets through the two plantation companies, purportedly for flood relief efforts. Investigators claim the purchases, valued at more than Rs. 3.27 million and Rs. 3 million, were made without following proper procurement procedures and that the items were never distributed.
In addition, Pushpakumara has been accused of influencing company officials to procure T-shirts and sarees from the plantation companies for participants attending May Day rallies in 2014.
The investigation into the allegations is being conducted by the Bribery Commission.
