Court grants bail to insurance company Engineer in alleged bribery case

Colombo, April 2 (Daily Mirror) - The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court ordered the release on bail of an engineer attached to Continental Lanka Insurance Company, who had been remanded over allegations of aiding and abetting the offering of a bribe to an Additional Government Analyst of the Government Analyst’s Department.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama directed that the suspect be released on two sureties of Rs. 1 million each. 

The court also imposed a foreign travel ban on the suspect.

Officials appearing on behalf of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption informed court that the suspect was in possession of documents relating to payments allegedly made to the Additional Government Analyst. They stated that the documents were crucial for ongoing investigations and had not yet been submitted, requesting that the suspect be further remanded.

However, President’s Counsel Ali Sabry, appearing for the defence, strongly objected to the request. He denied the allegations, maintaining that no bribe had been offered to the Government Analyst.

The defence further argued that, under the Establishments Code, officers of the Government Analyst’s Department are permitted to provide private services for a fee and that such arrangements are not unlawful. Counsel pointed out that several insurance companies routinely obtain such services and questioned why only his client was being singled out for investigation.

Describing the practice as a common feature within the insurance industry, the defence maintained that the transactions in question did not constitute a violation of the law.

After considering submissions from both sides, the Chief Magistrate observed that the suspect could not be kept in remand custody solely on the basis that the required documents had not yet been produced.

Accordingly, the suspect was released on bail, and the magistrate fixed further magisterial inquiry for June 23.

The arrest was made over allegations that the suspect had aided and abetted the offering of a bribe to an Additional Government Analyst to secure favourable analytical reports for vehicles insured by the company following accidents.