Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis has granted bail to the judge of the Colombo North Quazi Court, who was in remand until yesterday (19) over accusations of accepting a bribe amounting to Rs. 7,500 for issuing a divorce certificate.
The magistrate allowed the release of the suspect on Rs. 25,000 cash bail, requiring two sureties for rupees two million each.
The arrest and subsequent remand of the judge stemmed from a complaint filed with the Bribery Commission. According to the complaint, the judge had officiated a marriage between the complainant and a teacher from a prestigious Colombo school in 2019. Subsequently, a second marriage took place in 2023 under Sharia Law. The second wife initiated divorce proceedings in the Colombo North Quazi Court, prompting the alleged bribe request.
The quazi judge, who had initially granted a short-term divorce, reportedly demanded a bribe of Rs. 7,500 from the complainant to issue the permanent divorce certificate. In response, the Bribery Commission orchestrated a raid, leading to the arrest of the judge during the act of accepting the bribe.
The suspect was remanded until yesterday on charges of soliciting a bribe while performing duties as a government official. Bribery officer Ranjith Bandara represented the Commission, while Senior Counsel Ajith Pathirana, along with Dilum Bandara, Anjaya Dassanayaka, and Maheshi Koswattage, appeared on behalf of the suspect.
The case has been postponed until May 7, 2024, allowing time for further investigation and legal proceedings.
