The Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne yesterday ordered the release of former Minister and Eastern Province Governor Rohitha Bogollagama from a corruption case filed against him.
The Magistrate made this order pursuant to a order given by the Colombo High Court.The Magistrate observed that Colombo High Court judge made this order considering the preliminary objections raised by the defence counsel.
The Magistrate had earlier requested from the Colombo High Court to submit correct documents before court pertaining to the corruption case filed against Rohitha Bogollagama as there were discrepancies in the documents that had been submitted by the defence counsel.
Attorneys appearing on behalf of the Rohitha Bogollagama had earlier informed court that as per the order containing in the verdict issued by the High Court, it had been advised to release the defendant from the case which had been filed at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The Magistrate had observed that the order containing the verdict issued by the High court had been attached to the case file.
When the case was taken up before court yesterday, the Magistrate observed that the Colombo High Court registrar has sent a letter stating that the order containing the verdict which had been sent to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court was correct.
The High Court Judge also mentioned in the verdict that there is no barrier for the Bribery Commission to take legal action against Rohitha Bogollagama in future based on the order issued by Colombo High Court Judge Shashi Mahendran.
Meanwhile, the defendant had filed a revision application at the Colombo High Court against the order issued by the Colombo Chief Magistrate on March 3, 2019.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption alleged that Bogollagama, while serving as the Chairman of the Board of Investment, had illegally given his approval to release US$ 3,622 as hotel accommodation cost, in lieu of an investment promotion exhibition held in London in 2006.
The Bribery Commission further alleged that Governor Bogollagama had influenced the then BOI Chairman to excessively release Rs. 376,196 for the London exhibition contrary to the Treasury’s accepted recommendations.
from daily news