Warrants issued on ex prison hospital Deputy Director

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, Jan. 16 (Daily Mirror) - Colombo Additional Magistrate Oshadha Migara Mahaarachchi issued warrants for the arrest and production before court of a former Acting Deputy Director of the Prison Hospital and a former Deputy Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, Angoda.

The warrants were issued over allegations that the suspect had demanded a bribe of Rs. 1.5 million and obtained Rs. 300,000 credited to a bank account from an imprisoned suspect known as 'Army Asanka,' a notorious drug trafficker and underworld gang member.

The court issued the warrants as the suspect, identified as Dr. Nayanajith Hemantha Ranasinghe or Ranasinghe Arachchi, who is currently out on bail, failed to appear before court when the complaint was taken up.

Investigations are being conducted into allegations that the bribe was obtained to recommend the continued detention at the Prison Hospital of remand prisoner Vijethunga Mudiyanselage Asanka Priyadarshana, alias 'Army Asanka,' who is currently in remand custody over possession of the drug “Ice,” thereby committing the offence of corruption.

After considering the facts, the Magistrate issued the warrant order and directed the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to report on the progress of investigations to court on June 19.