Former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal was yesterday released on bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court over a private plaint filed for alleged financial irregularities that took place while he was serving as the Central Bank Governor in 2014.
Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage Thilina Gamage today ordered Nivard Cabraal to be released on a surety bail of Rs.10 million.
Former Central Bank Governor Cabraal was present before the Court on a private plaint filed by Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thera under section 136(1)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act. The Court had earlier issued an order preventing Cabraal from leaving the country.
The petitioner alleged that the Sri Lankan government, when Ajith Nivard Cabral was functioning as the Central Bank Governor in 2014, had paid US$ 6.5 million through the Central Bank to an American businessman. The businessman is Imaad Shah Zuberi, by name who was a CIA mole to buy influence and fix its image in the US.
The petitioner further said US Court has held that out of the said money given to him on behalf of Sri Lankan Taxpayers, US$ 5.6 million, or 80% of it, had been spent on himself and his wife.
The petitioner said former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabral paid a sum of US$ 6.5 million without prior approval from the parliament and Cabinet of Ministers, violating Article 150 of the constitution.
The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court had also issued an order preventing Cabraal from leaving the country over an incident where Cabraal took measures to pay a 500 million US dollar international sovereign bond.
