The Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar today sentenced two former Sri Lankan ministers to lengthy prison terms with hard labor over a high-profile corruption case involving the importation of sports equipment.
Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI), while former Trade Minister Nalin Fernando received a 25-year sentence.
The verdict was delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Mahesh Weeraman, Pradeep Abeyratne, and Amali Ranawera.
The case, prosecuted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), centered on a fraudulent procurement deal involving 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 checkerboards imported between September 1 and December 31, 2014.
The total financial loss to the state was estimated at Rs. 53.1 million.
The court found that the charges against the accused were proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The indictment included six serious charges under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, filed by the Director General of CIABOC.
(News First)
Case history:
Case against the former Minister of Sports / 03 July 2019
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has filed a case under bearing the case No. HC/PTB/2/2/2019 in No.2 Three Member High Court against former Minister of Sports, Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Chairman of the CWE, Nalin Ruwanjeewa under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, on the charge of committing a loss of Rs.53 million to the Government by importing of 14,000 carrom boards and 11, 000 checkers (daam) boards to the CWE against due process and using the items for a purpose not coming under the purview of the ministry.
Corruption case against MP Aluthgamage ends at Magistrates Court /27 August 2019
A corruption case filed against Parliamentarian Mahindananda Aluthgamage ended at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s court today after prosecutors informed the court that a case has been filed at the Special High Court.
Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne who ended hearings of the case also ordered the accused to appear before the Special High Court after summons are issued to that effect.
The Bribery and Corruption case had filed a case against the suspects for causing Rs 53 million in losses to the government by purchasing carrom and checkerboards using the funds of state-owned retailer Sathosa during the 2015 presidential election campaign.
Former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando has also been named as an accused in the case.
The suspects are alleged to have purchased 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 checker boards between September 1 and December 31 in 2014.
