Lawyer Rakitha Nirmala Rajapaksa, son of former justice minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, SJB’s Horana organizer Charith Vasantha Kumara Abeysinghe and former Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. director Warusha Hennadige Aruna Sri Chaturanga have been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
In a statement, CIABOC said the arrests were made in connection with an investigation into the solicitation and acceptance of a large-scale bribe linked to underworld figure and drug kingpin Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias ‘Harak Kata’.
The suspects had initially demanded Rs. 500 million from Madhushika Madhuwanthi, the wife of ‘Harak Kata’, during meetings held in Dubai in 2023.
The amount was later reduced to Rs. 200 million, of which Rs. 120 million was obtained as an advance payment.
The suspects promised to use political and legal influence to ensure Harak Kata’s safety while in custody, secure the cancellation of his detention orders issued by the CID, prevent his transfer to the high-security Boossa Prison, and facilitate his release from ongoing criminal investigations and legal proceedings.
The three suspects are due to be produced before the Colombo chief magistrate’s court.
(The Leader)