By Newswire Editorial
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that a document containing handwriting attributed to MP Namal Rajapaksa has been referred to the Government Analyst for examination as part of the ongoing investigation into the controversial Krrish property transaction.
The matter was revealed when the case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama on Friday (06).
Rajapaksa, who has been granted bail in the Krrish case but remains in remand custody in connection with other legal proceedings, and former Krrish company director Janaki Siriwardena were produced before court by prison officials.
An Assistant Director representing the Bribery Commission informed the court that statements had already been recorded from several individuals, including the Colombo Divisional Secretary and a former Land Commissioner.
Investigators also intend to obtain statements from officials of the Urban Development Authority regarding the transfer of land at Transworks Square in Colombo Fort to the Indian company Krrish.
The Commission informed the court that the Government Analyst’s Department had requested the original document containing handwriting attributed to Rajapaksa to conduct its examination.
The original document is currently held in a case file before Colombo High Court No. 7.
The Bribery Commission requested an order directing the High Court Registrar to release the document for examination.
However, the Magistrate observed that the request had not been included in the further report submitted to court and directed the Commission to submit a properly documented application.
The court ordered the Bribery Commission to report on the progress of its investigation on November 20.
The case was fixed for the same date, while Janaki Siriwardena was further remanded until then.
The investigation concerns allegations involving a Rs. 70 million bribe in connection with the transfer of land at Transworks Square to the Indian company Krrish for a proposed mixed-use development project.
Rajapaksa and Siriwardena were previously arrested and produced before court over allegations of accepting a bribe and aiding and abetting the alleged offence. (Newswire)