Two men who stood as sureties for former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena have themselves been remanded until May 13 after police said they had been paid to act as guarantors despite having no personal connection to him.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva ordered the remand of Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Irshan, both residents of Sanchee Arachchiwatta in Hulftsdorp, on Wednesday. Chandrasena was released on bail the previous day after being held in remand custody over allegations of receiving a USD 2 million bribe in the purchase of Airbus aircraft.
Sub Inspector Anuruddha of the Keselwatta Police Crime Branch told the court the two men had each accepted Rs. 15,000 to act as sureties for Chandrasena, despite having no personal connection or knowledge of the former CEO. Under questioning, they reportedly said two individuals identified only as Deva and Tissa had recruited them and paid the fee.
Police said the arrests followed a complaint by court officials after Grama Niladhari certificates submitted by the men were verified. Sub Inspector Anuruddha told the court the magistrate had earlier observed that the sureties would not be able to produce the accused when required and that there was no genuine connection between them.
The conduct constitutes an offence under the Bail Act No. 30 of 1997, police said. The Additional Magistrate ordered police to submit a comprehensive report on the suspects and the Grama Niladhari certification process.
The Bribery Commission had opposed Chandrasena’s bail at the original hearing, which was nonetheless granted with Rs. 500,000 cash and three sureties of Rs. 10 million each, alongside a travel ban.
