Rs. 144Mn Immunoglobulin Scam Indictments involve Rs. 10M printing cost for prosecution

By Bhagya Silva

Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama informed the court that the Government Printer had notified the prosecution that each printed set of indictments and annexures in the immunoglobulin procurement case costs approximately Rs. 866,575 per accused, totalling nearly Rs. 10.4 million for all 12 accused. Therefore, a 21-day period has been requested to complete the printing process.

She told the court that Dr. Janath Buthpitiya, the 10th accused, had obtained leave from November 12, 2023, to February 9, 2024, to travel to the United Kingdom while serving as a government medical officer. Immigration records confirm his departure on November 12, but there is no record of his return. She said that he has failed to appear in court, indicating intentional evasion, and a Red Notice has already been issued against him by the Magistrate’s Court.

The prosecution sought permission to serve the indictments on a future date when all the accused are present in court. The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar Bench accepted the request and fixed the case for September 16 for the serving of indictments.

The case, filed by the Attorney General, relates to the fraudulent procurement of substandard human immunoglobulin. Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and 11 others have been indicted on 13 counts, including conspiracy to misappropriate Rs. 144.4 million in public funds by supplying 6,195 vials of non-medicinal substances falsely labelled as “Human Immunoglobulin” and “Rituximab” to the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health.

This follows a one-year and eight-month-long investigation, leading to indictments being filed on Wednesday. The Trial-at-Bar, appointed by the Chief Justice, comprises Justices Mahesh Weeraman, Amali Ranaweera, and Pradeep Abeyratne. The prosecution has listed approximately 348 witnesses and 291 productions for the trial.

Investigations commenced on October 13, 2023, following complaints lodged by Kamandha Thushara, President of the Citizens’ Power Organisation Against Corruption and Waste, with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Bribery Commission.