Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, who was arrested in connection with organizing the ‘white van’ media briefing on November 10 ahead of the Presidential election, was granted bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne yesterday.
The suspect was released on two sureties of Rs.500,000 each. The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on him and ordered him to hand over his passport to the court.
Delivering the order, the Magistrate informed that she has highly considered the legal irregularities made by the prosecution during the matter.
The Magistrate highlighted that according to the Criminal Procedure Code the charges which had been filed against MP Senaratne were bailable offences. The Magistrate observed that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) should file MP Senaratne’s matter as a separate case.
“The charges have been filed against the suspect considering Sections 169,190,113,102 of the Penal Code and Section 81 of the Presidential Election Act.
These charges were different from the charges which the CID had filed against the other two suspects in this case,” the Magistrate observed.
The Magistrate also cancelled the anticipatory bail application filed by MP Senaratne. The Magistrate also ordered the suspect Rajitha Senaratne to provide a statement before the Criminal Investigations Department.
Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris appearing on behalf of the Attorney General informed court that thre CID recorded a statement from Dr. Mohommed Nazeer Mubarak regarding the health condition of MP Rajitha Senaratne. Dr. Mohommed Nazeer Mubarak mentioned in his statement that it was pointless to keep MP Rajitha Senaratne at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Lanka Hospitals.
DSG Dileepa Peiris pleaded to issue an order directing the Judicial Medical Officer to submit a medical report pertaining to MP Rajitha Senaratne’s medical condition.
DSG Dileepa Peiris also stated that it was revealed that State Pharmaceuticals Corporation Chairman Mohammed Rumi Mohammed Azeem had allegedly given Rs.2 million for the first two suspects to participate at a press conference held on November 10. DSG Dilepa Peiris pleaded to issue a travel ban on him. The CID also recorded statements from the wife and son of MP Rajitha Senaratne.
After taking the request into consideration, the Magistrate imposed a travel ban on him.
DSG Dileepa Peiris also requested the Magistrate to name Mohammed Rumi as a suspect in this case and issue an arrest warrant on him.
However, denying the particular request the Magistrate said that the CID had not filed proper charges against him to name him as a suspect of the case and to issue an arrest warrant.
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