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Grounded CB Gov’s lawyer says he’s being singeld out
View(s):Beleaguered Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran will write to the Bribery or Corruption Commission tomorrow through his lawyers requesting an appointment to make submissions on his own behalf following the impounding of his passport on the orders of the Commission on Friday. Mr. Mahendran is on leave from the Central Bank now for over a month, pending a three-member investigation ordered by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe into his conduct in the controversial Treasury bond auction, following allegations that his son-in-law’s company gained an unfair advantage at the auction as he was privy to insider information.
His passport was impounded after he was questioned by the Commission for several hours on Thursday. Senior Attorney-at-Law Kolitha Dharmawardena, who is appearing for Mr. Mahendran, told the Sunday Times that the investigation by the Commission to investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) was flawed and one-sided as it was concentrating only on the Governor and had not questioned others involved. “It was pursuant to a Government decision that the Treasury bond auction was held.
Not only Mr. Mahendran, but there are also others in the Government who should be questioned in this regard. There is no purpose in going forward with this inquiry if others in the Government are also not questioned,” Mr. Dharmawardena said. Mr. Dharmawardena said they hoped to make legal representation to the Commission in the coming days. He added that if there was evidence to prosecute the Governor, his lawyers were ready to go to court and defend him.
The Sunday Times learns that the three-member committee of lawyers appointed by the Prime Minister has handed over its findings. (Please see Political Column on Pages 14 and 15 for more details).