340 million rupees in Sajin's wife's bank account

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) stated before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama yesterday (24) that information has been revealed about assets exceeding 340 million rupees in the bank account of the wife of former Member of Parliament Sajin de Vass Gunawardena.These new details concerning the suspect former MP, who is already in remand custody on charges of illegally acquiring assets worth 240 million rupees within a year, were revealed during further investigations conducted after his incarceration.

The Commission informed the court that during his tenure as the Monitoring MP for Foreign Affairs, he engaged in twenty-seven private foreign trips with his wife and children, spending an amount of Rs. 243,850,942.23, which exceeded his legitimate income. When prison officials presented the suspect to the court yesterday, the Bribery Commission further emphasized that extensive investigations are continuing regarding the concealment of information about his true income and expenses, as well as offenses committed under Section 23 (a) (4) of the Bribery Act.

The Bribery Commission requested the court to further remand the suspect, stating that further investigations into the newly discovered assets are necessary. However, Attorney-at-Law Jeevantha Jayathilaka, appearing for the suspect, informed the court that a similar case regarding the acquisition of illegal assets is pending against his client in the Colombo High Court, and since evidence has been filed in that regard, he requested bail for the suspect.

Considering the submissions made by both parties, the Chief Magistrate stated that investigations related to this incident have not yet concluded and that a report on new assets has also been received by the court. Accordingly, the Magistrate pointed out that exceptional circumstances must be presented for bail to be granted under such conditions, and rejecting the suspect's bail application, he ordered his further remand until the 31st of next month. Additionally, as an indictment case is scheduled to be heard at the Colombo High Court on the 26th of next month, the Magistrate issued an order to the Commissioner General of Prisons to take steps to produce the suspect before the High Court on that day.