Former Member of Parliament Sajin Vass Gunawardena, who was arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), has been granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (31).

The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama after considering the submissions made by officials of the Bribery Commission and legal counsel representing the suspect, said Ada Derana reporter.

Accordingly, during today’s proceeding, the Magistrate ordered the suspect’s release on two personal bonds of Rs. 5 million each and further imposed an overseas travel ban, prohibiting him from leaving the country.

In addition, the court order stipulated that the suspect’s passport must be surrendered to the custody of the court.

Having ordered the suspect’s release upon the fulfillment of bail conditions, the Magistrate directed that the case be called again on August 22.

When the complaint was taken up today, officials from the Bribery Commission informed the court that the suspect, who served as the Monitoring MP for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2010 to 2015, had undertaken approximately 30 foreign trips within a single year starting from March 31, 2013.

The official further stated that the suspect had failed to provide information regarding the expenditures incurred during those travels.

The Bribery Commission official noted that substantial transactions had occurred through the bank accounts of the suspect and his wife, adding that statements had been recorded from bank officials, revealing that these transactions were conducted both locally and internationally. 

It was further disclosed that investigations had revealed the suspect had spent over Rs. 52 million on foreign travel and living expenses during the relevant twelve-month period.

Gunawardena, who had been arrested on March 9 upon appearing before the Bribery Commission to provide a statement, had been remanded in custody until today (March 31) prior to being granted bail.

He was taken into custody by officers of the commission over allegations of accumulating illegal assets worth Rs. 243.8 million during the period between March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014, while he served as the Monitoring MP of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.