The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne, a specialist neurosurgeon at Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, who was arrested and remanded over medical equipment fraud. 

The court today ordered the release of Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne on strict bail conditions. 

The specialist neurosurgeon was previously arrested and remanded on charges of selling equipment valued at Rs. 50,000 to patients for Rs. 175,000 through a private company she is affiliated with. 

Following her arrest, the Bribery Commission revealed that the items were sold to approximately 300 patients through her private company, and this resulted in over Rs. 300 million in losses for patients.

Investigations conducted by the Bribery Commission had also found that Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne had conducted surgeries on patients who had been declared brain-dead for several days. 

It was also found that the accused doctor had performed unnecessary surgery on patients who could have been treated with drugs alone. (Newswire)

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The daughter of remanded specialist neurosurgeon Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne, who was arrested for allegedly threatening officials at the Bribery Commission, has been granted bail. 

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today ordered the specialist neurosurgeon’s daughter to be released on a surety of Rs. 500,000. 

The 21-year-old woman was arrested by the Keselwatte Police on Monday for having allegedly issued death threats to officials at the Bribery Commission.

Specialist neurosurgeon Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne is in remand custody after being arrested over allegations of selling medical equipment valued at Rs. 50,000 to patients for Rs. 175,000 through a private company she is affiliated with. 

Alleging this resulted in over Rs. 300 million in losses for patients, the Bribery Commission said the medical equipment had been sold to approximately 300 patients through her private company, with the assistance of two others. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has further remanded until 15 July, Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne, a specialist neurosurgeon at Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, who was arrested and remanded over medical equipment fraud. 

Rejecting the neurosurgeon’s bail application, the court further remanded her, while it granted bail to the other two suspects implicated in the case.

Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne’s daughter, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission for having allegedly threatened commission officials, was yesterday remanded until 09 July. 

The specialist neurosurgeon is accused of selling equipment valued at Rs. 50,000 to patients for Rs. 175,000 through a private company she is affiliated with. 

Alleging this resulted in over Rs. 300 million in losses for patients, the Bribery Commission said the doctor violated public service procurement rules by not purchasing surgical items through official hospital procedures. 

The Bribery Commission further revealed that the items were instead sold to approximately 300 patients through her private company. 

Investigations conducted by the Bribery Commission had also found that Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne had conducted surgeries on patients who had been declared brain-dead for several days. 

The Bribery Commission had informed the court, during a previous session, that one such surgery took place five days after a patient was declared brain-dead, with the heart kept functioning artificially.

The court was further informed that the accused doctor had also performed unnecessary surgery on patients who could have been treated with drugs alone. (Newswire)

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The daughter of remanded specialist neurosurgeon Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne has been arrested for allegedly threatening officials at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). 

Reports emerged last week of the 21-year-old daughter of the specialist neurosurgeon having allegedly issued death threats to officials of the Bribery Commission.

As such, Bribery Commission officials arrested the daughter of the specialist neurosurgeon today. 

Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne is currently in remand custody after being arrested over allegations of selling medical equipment valued at Rs. 50,000 to patients for Rs. 175,000 through a private company she is affiliated with. 

Alleging this resulted in over Rs. 300 million in losses for patients, the Bribery Commission said the doctor violated public service procurement rules by not purchasing surgical items through official hospital procedures. 

The items were instead sold to approximately 300 patients through her private company. 

It was also recently revealed that Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne had conducted surgeries on patients who had been declared brain-dead for several days. 

She, along with two of her associates who had assisted her with the medical fraud, currently remain in remand custody. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has been informed that Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne, a specialist neurosurgeon at Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, had conducted surgeries on patients who had been declared brain-dead for several days. 

The Bribery Commission had also informed the court that one such surgery took place five days after a patient was declared brain-dead, with the heart kept functioning artificially.

The court was further informed that the accused doctor had also performed unnecessary surgery on patients who could have been treated with drugs alone.

The Bribery Commission had disclosed the information to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, when the suspect and two of her accomplices were presented to court by authorities yesterday.

Taking into consideration the facts, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court further remanded the doctor and the two other suspects until 08 July. 

Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne is accused of selling equipment valued at Rs. 50,000 to patients for Rs. 175,000 through a private company she is affiliated with. 

Alleging this resulted in over Rs. 300 million in losses for patients, the Bribery Commission said the doctor violated public service procurement rules by not purchasing surgical items through official hospital procedures. 

The items were instead sold to approximately 300 patients through her private company. 

Since the investigation was launched, at least 77 patients have been confirmed to have suffered financial losses, while 92 additional complaints have been received via telephone. (Newswire)

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Neurosurgeon Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne of the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital and two others, who were arrested over medical equipment fraud, have been further remanded. 

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today ordered the suspects to be remanded until 08 July. 

The Bribery Commission arrested specialist doctor Maheshi Wijeratne and two others this month for selling medical equipment at higher prices through a third party.

Per the facts uncovered thus far by the Bribery Commission, the doctor in question has been selling External Ventricular Drain (EVD) and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt devices, which are required for neurosurgery, through third parties at a value higher than the market price.

Although the market value of the equipment is between Rs. 30,000 and 60,000, it is reported that she sold them for between Rs. 120,000 and 250,000 with the assistance of the two people currently in remand custody with her.

Based on the information revealed by over 70 patients whose statements have been recorded by the Bribery Commission, the three suspects have earned approximately Rs. 30 million through the fraud. (Newswire)

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The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has clarified that specialist doctor Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne of the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, who was arrested for selling medical equipment at higher prices through a third party, is not a member of the GMOA. 

Addressing the media, GMOA Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said that the GMOA was not prepared to intervene in the investigations being conducted by various parties, including the Police. 

Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe further said that the GMOA will not protect persons who are engaging in such wrongdoings, pointing out that these incidents are negatively impacting the state’s health services. 

Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe also revealed that the GMOA has written to the Health Minister recommending action that could be taken to prevent such wrongdoings in the health sector. 

His comments come in response to queries raised on the recent arrest and remand of Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne, who is a neurosurgeon at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital.

Per the facts uncovered thus far by the Bribery Commission, the doctor in question has been selling External Ventricular Drain (EVD) and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt devices, which are required for neurosurgery, through third parties at a value higher than the market price.

Although the market value of the equipment is between Rs. 30,000 and 60,000, it is reported that she sold them for between Rs. 120,000 and 250,000 with the assistance of the two people currently in remand custody with her.

Based on the information revealed by over 70 patients whose statements have been recorded by the Bribery Commission, the three suspects have earned approximately Rs. 30 million through the fraud. (Newswire)

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