Former Minister Johnston Fernando and Hemantha Lalith de Silva, the owner of a private company, who were arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over a corruption allegation, have been released on bail.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the order today (04) after considering submissions made by CIABOC officials and lawyers representing the suspects.
The Magistrate ordered that the two suspects be released on two personal sureties of Rs. 2.5 million each and also imposed a travel ban on them.
The suspects were arrested and produced before court over allegations that they caused a loss of approximately Rs. 7.9 million to the government in connection with the purchase of chairs for the Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre in Polgolla.
According to the allegations, the chairs were not purchased from the company that had submitted the lowest bid. Instead, arrangements were allegedly made to purchase them from another private company, resulting in the alleged financial loss to the state.
Johnston Fernando is accused of committing the offence of corruption, while Hemantha Lalith de Silva is accused of aiding and abetting the alleged offence.
