High Court Fixes Hearing on CIABOC Applications to Revoke Bail for Rakitha Rajapaksa and Two Others

Colombo High Court Judge Lal Bandara Ranasinghe has scheduled the hearing of three revision applications filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for February 9. The commission is seeking to overturn the bail granted to Attorney-at-Law Rakitha Rajapaksa and two other suspects implicated in an alleged Rs. 120 million bribery incident.

The applications contest a decision by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court to grant bail to Rakitha Rajapaksa, Charith Abeysinghe, and Warusha Hannadige, who had previously been remanded in custody. The three suspects stand accused of soliciting and obtaining Rs. 120 million from the wife of an organised criminal in exchange for facilitating relief on his behalf. In its petition to the High Court, CIABOC submitted that the Magistrate’s ruling was legally flawed and failed to properly apply the governing statutory provisions on bail, necessitating a review of the order’s legality and propriety.

During the court proceedings, Assistant Director Anusha Sambandapperuma, appearing on behalf of CIABOC, notified the bench that the commission would not pursue the interim relief sought in the applications on that day.

Key Developments

• Revision Hearing Set: Colombo High Court Judge Lal Bandara Ranasinghe fixed February 9 to hear three revision applications seeking to revoke bail for Rakitha Rajapaksa, Charith Abeysinghe, and Warusha Hannadige.
• Objection Deadlines: The respondents have been ordered to file their objections by November 14, while CIABOC must file its objections by November 28.
• Bribery Allegations: The suspects face charges of soliciting and receiving a Rs. 120 million bribe from the wife of an organised criminal to secure relief for the offender.
• Legal Grounds: CIABOC argues that the Colombo Magistrate’s Court order granting bail was legally flawed and misapplied statutory bail laws.

After taking the preliminary submissions into account, the High Court formalized the timeline for objections ahead of the substantive hearing set for early next year.