Rajitha seeks interim order on arrest warrant

Bribery Commission obtained warrant by misleading Court: Maithri Gunaratne PC 

By Bhagya Silva

Former Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday filed a motion before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court seeking a temporary suspension of a warrant issued against him. The warrant relates to an alleged loss of over Rs. 20 million to the Government through the award of a sand mining project at Kirinda Fisheries Harbour to a Korean company.  

The motion was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayathunga.  

After considering the submissions, the Chief Magistrate made no order on the request and informed the suspect’s counsel that the matter could be raised again by filing another motion on a date when the complainant is present in court.  

President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, appearing for the suspect, submitted that on August 12, during the court vacation period, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) had filed a motion and obtained a warrant against his client.  

Counsel argued that the Commission had misled the Magistrate’s Court in obtaining the warrant.  

He informed court that, following the rejection of his client’s bail application by the Chief Magistrate’s Court, an appeal had been filed before the Colombo High Court seeking to review that decision. When the High Court took up the revision application recently, the judge issued notice on CIABOC to show cause.  

Counsel told court that if the Commission intended to seek a warrant against his client, it ought to have done so before the High Court, where proceedings were already pending, and not by misleading the Magistrate’s Court.  

He urged court to issue an interim order suspending the execution of the warrant. After considering the submissions, the Chief Magistrate directed counsel to re-file the motion on a date when the complainant party is present in court.