Mediator in Kapila sureties case arrested

Police arrested a 76-year-old man for allegedly acting as a mediator to coordinate two individuals who accepted money to stand as sureties for former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva remanded the two individuals, who appeared to provide personal bail of Rs. 10 million for Kapila Chandrasena, until the 13th.

The remanded suspects were identified as Mohamed Rizwan and Mohamed Irshan, residents of Sanchi Arachchi Watte near the Aluthkade court complex.

The court had ordered three personal bails for the suspect Kapila Chandrasena, and these two suspects had volunteered for two of those bails.

The Crimes Division of the Keselwatta Police informed the court that the suspects appeared as sureties after receiving a payment of Rs. 15,000, without having any personal relationship or prior acquaintance with Kapila Chandrasena.

The suspects confessed to the police that they accepted this money following a request made by two individuals named Deva and Tissa.

Police stated that court officials sensed these sureties would be unable to produce the suspect in court when required under the provisions of the Bail Act, as no connection existed between the suspect and the sureties.

It was revealed in court that the suspects were arrested after a complaint led to an investigation of the Grama Niladhari certificates they submitted.

The police pointed out to the court that this is a punishable offence under the Bail Act No. 30 of 1997.