News
Ravi K, Aloysius released on bail; Rohitha A’s case postponed
Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) Director Arjun Aloysius were released on conditional bail on Friday by the Colombo High Court after being served indictments.
After considering a request by lawyers for the two accused that their clients be granted bail, Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige released the accused on a cash bail of Rs 500,000 and two sureties of Rs 5 million each. The judge also barred the two accused from travelling overseas.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has indicted the two accused on six counts.
Mr Karunanayake and Mr Aloysius have been indicted over Mr Karunanayake’s purchase of an apartment at Monarch Residencies in Kollupitiya in 2016 using funds provided by PTL Director Mr Aloysius whilst the former was Finance Minister.
The indictment alleges that Mr Aloysius paid Rs 11.68 million for the apartment, using cheques from PTL and Walt & Row Associates (Pvt) Ltd of which he is also Director.
The CIABOC informed the court that it intends to produce 58 witnesses and 32 documents before court to prove the charges against the accused.
The judge gave the accused until February 12 to put up the bail, and postponed the case to April 1.
Meanwhile, the Colombo High Court postponed further consideration of the case filed by the Bribery Commission against Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena until February 12. The minister has been indicted for unlawful acquisition of assets amounting to over Rs40 million during the period from March 31, 2004 to May 31, 2006.
Minister Abeygunawardena was present in court when the case was taken up on Friday.