29 April 2022 07:12 pm
The Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today ordered to release former State Minister A.H.M. Fowzie from a corruption case following the Bribery Commission's decision to withdraw it.
The Bribery Commission had filed a corruption case against former State Minister A.H.M. Fowzie for allegedly causing a Rs.1.07 million unlawful loss to the government by misusing a vehicle belonging to the Disaster Management Centre.
The Bribery Commission informed the court it has decided to withdraw this case reserving its rights to file a fresh indictment with the written sanction of three commissioners of the Bribery Commission.
The Director-General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed this corruption case against the State Minister under Section 70 of the Bribery Act on four charges.
The Bribery Commission alleged that State Minister Fowzie had unlawfully utilised a Land Cruiser Jeep belonging to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) between 2010 and 2015, while he was serving as a Senior Minister during the previous regime. The value of the vehicle was estimated at Rs. 19.5 million.
President's Counsel Shavindra Fernando appeared for the accused. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)