October 06, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the continued remand of three individuals, including the wife of former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, over an alleged bribery incident connected to a separate case before the Colombo High Court.
The suspects — identified as Gunawardena’s wife, a court employee and a registrar — will remain in custody until 20 October following an order issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.
The decision was made after the court heard submissions from investigators attached to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) as well as lawyers appearing for the accused.
The trio had previously been taken into custody over allegations surrounding a Rs. 50,000 payment. Investigators allege that the money was offered, received or facilitated in an attempt to obtain a more lenient sentence for Sarana Gunawardena in another bribery case currently being heard before Colombo High Court No. 11.
Gunawardena, who is already serving a prison sentence, is the subject of the separate proceedings.
