Bribery charges against ex-manager of Samurdhi Assn withdrawn

Sandasen MARASINGHE

The Colombo High Court yesterday allowed the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption to withdraw the bribery charges levelled against the former Manager of the Kekirawa Samurdhi Association alleging that he deposited the money of the Samurdhi Association at the Pramuka Bank and accepted a commission.

Colombo High Court Judge Sunil Rajapakse yesterday allowed the Bribery Commission to withdraw the case against P.B.R. Rupasinghe Dassanayake after the Commission pleaded before Court to allow the Commission to withdraw the indictment as two witnesses were absconding Court.

Court acquitted Dassanayake from all charges including that he had accepted a commission of 0.5 percent of the interest rate from Pramuka Bank for depositing Rs 2.3 million of the Kekirawa Samurdhi Association at Pramuka Bank for three months in 2001.

According to the indictment he had demanded the commission from Pramuka Bank Deputy General Manager P.D.A. Joseph Rienzie of Ruwanpura, Angoda through a mediator named Somasarage Mangala Wijesinghe of Walagambahuwa, Maradankadawala, Anuradhapura in March 2001. He accepted the gratification in April 2001. According to the charges he had deposited the money at an interest rate of 18.25 percent. The Counsel appearing for the Bribery Commission submitted that S. Mangala Wijesinghe was a main witness and he was absconding Court. Another important witness P. D. A. Joseph Rienzie has left the country. The commission pleaded before Court to allow the case to be withdrawn. C. Jayasekara appeared for the Bribery Commission.