Investigations into cases filed against Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa under the Bribery Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act over an alleged Rs. 100 million bribe linked to the Airbus scandal have been completed.
The Attorney General informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that steps were being taken to obtain directions from the Chief Justice to have the case heard before a permanent Trial-at-Bar on the basis of a consolidated indictment.
Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, told court that the relevant request would be submitted to the Chief Justice either today or tomorrow.
Meanwhile, President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando, appearing for Namal Rajapaksa, renewed his client’s bail application.
Making submissions, Fernando argued that the completion of investigations and the prosecution’s readiness to file indictments could be considered special circumstances in support of granting bail.
He also informed court that Rajapaksa’s parents were currently hospitalised. His father was receiving treatment at a private hospital, while his mother was being treated in the cardiac unit of the Colombo National Hospital and was due to undergo open-heart surgery.
The counsel further submitted that Namal Rajapaksa was the eldest son in the family and requested the court to consider these circumstances when deciding on bail.
After considering the submissions, the Colombo Chief Magistrate rejected the bail application and ordered that Namal Rajapaksa be remanded until October 28.
