CIABOC to indict two top officials on bribery charges

• Ex-Chief of Staff for President Sirisena and Timber Corporation head to be indicted for accepting Rs. 20 m bribe 
• Case fixed for 10 September

By T. Farook Thajudeen 

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate they will indict the ex-Chief of staff of President Maithripala Sirisena and another State official for accepting a bribe of Rs. 20 million from an Indian businessman.

Bribery sleuth C. Chandrasiri of the Commission told Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna that they had completed the investigation on the two suspects, the President’s ex-chief of staff, I.H.K. Mahanama and State Timber Corporation (STC) Chairman P. Dissanayake, for accepting the bribe.  The suspect had originally solicited Rs. 540 million from the Indian businessman, promising that they would provide him with approvals necessary to obtain machinery and building space. The price is alleged to have been negotiated down to Rs. 100 million. The Magistrate Court said the case will be fixed for 10 September.