News
Cabraal case not over: CIABOC mulls fresh action if loss is not repaid
View(s):By Ranjith Padmasiri
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is considering whether to call two of the accused who were discharged from the Greek bonds case as prosecution witnesses in a fresh case to be filed against former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, should he fail to pay back the estimated loss to the state within three months, the Sunday Times learns.
This comes as the Commission mulls bringing a fresh indictment against Mr Cabraal and amid moves by his lawyers to make legal representations regarding the condition imposed on him for the CIABOC to withdraw their case against the former Central Bank Governor.
Mr Cabraal was conditionally discharged by the Colombo High Court this week from the case where he was indicted for investing in Greek bonds during an economic crisis and thereby causing a loss to the state. He was ordered to pay back the estimated loss of Rs 1.8 billion to the state within three months.
When contacted on the conditional discharge, Mr Cabraal’s counsel, Dilan Ratnayake, PC, said that further steps will be taken after consultations with his client.
He claimed that his client did not request any conditions to withdraw the indictment, adding that they requested that the accused be discharged, as there were no legal grounds to proceed with the case against him. He stressed that they never agreed to any conditions imposed by CIABOC.
Mr Cabraal, explaining his position, told the Sunday Times last night that his lawyers have already stated their position, both to the CIABOC and the court.
“I will act in accordance with my legal advice,’ he said.
Former Deputy Central Bank Governors K.D. Dharmasena Dheerasinghe, D.B. Vasantha Ananda Silva and Assistant Governor H.A. Karunaratne, who were the second, third and fifth accused, respectively, were also discharged after the indictments were withdrawn.
The Sunday Times learns that the Bribery Commission intends to present two of the three as prosecution witnesses against Mr Cabraal in any fresh indictment.
The fourth accused, former Assistant Governor Chandrasiri Jayasinghe Panditha Siriwardena, had passed away earlier.
A senior CIABOC official said they were waiting for Mr Cabraal to pay back the loss suffered by the state, and that any further steps will be taken based on how he responds.
(Please see Page 8 for a related story.)
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!