Former SJB organiser returned to prison after failing to meet bail conditions

Former Samagi Jana Balawegaya Horana electorate organiser Charith Abeysinghe was returned to prison on Tuesday (28) after failing to meet bail conditions imposed by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The court granted bail to Abeysinghe, attorney Rakitha Rajapakshe, the son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, and former Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka Limited Executive Director Aruna Sri Warushahennadige.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered each suspect to be released on cash bail of Rs. 100,000 and two personal sureties of Rs. 1 million each.

The court directed the sureties to provide certificates showing that they possessed income or assets equal to the value of the bail.

The suspects were also barred from travelling overseas and ordered to surrender their passports to the court.

The Magistrate instructed the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to submit a progress report on the investigation on December 8.

Rakitha Rajapakshe and another suspect were released after fulfilling the bail conditions. Abeysinghe, however, was unable to do so and prison officials took him back into custody.