Lakmanthi Hettiarachchi, the wife of former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, has been remanded until October 6 in connection with an alleged attempt to offer a Rs. 50,000 bribe to a court employee.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the remand order after considering submissions made by officials of the Bribery Commission and lawyers representing the suspect.
Hettiarachchi was arrested by CIABOC over allegations that she offered Rs. 50,000 as a bribe to an office assistant attached to the Colombo High Court.
She is accused of offering the bribe in an alleged attempt to influence the imposition of a suspended prison sentence on her husband, former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena.
CIABOC subsequently arrested Hettiarachchi in connection with the alleged bribery attempt, while further investigations into the incident are underway.
The case comes after the Colombo High Court sentenced Gunawardena to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment in June, after finding him guilty on multiple corruption charges. (Newswire)