Senadhipathi to be tried in absentia

• Case filed by CIABOC to be heard on 22 Oct. 

By T. Farook Thajudeen

The trial against Avant Garde Maritime Services Ltd. Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi was fixed to be heard in absentia of the accused on 22 October.

High Court Judge Sashi Mahendran delivered this order in the bribery case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) involving an alleged bribe of Rs. 35.5 million paid to Retired Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando by Senadhipathi consequent to the Avant-Garde floating armoury operation between 2012 and 2014.

Fernando, who was placed in remand custody following proceedings in another case, was present in court yesterday when Senadhipathi’s case was heard.  Earlier President’s Counsel Gamini Marapona, who appeared for Senadhipathi, filed a medical report issued by a Singaporean doctor, which was countersigned by a solicitor in Singapore and authenticated by the Sri Lankan mission in Singapore, to establish that Senadhipathi was undergoing treatment in Singapore for an ailment. The court had previously issued warrants for Senadhipathi’s arrest after he failed to appear in court for the Avant-Garde Floating Armoury bribery case,

The Bribery Commission had filed indictments against the two accused for the alleged bribe offered to Fernando. The Commission had filed indictments against the two accused on 47 counts under sections 17, 19, 21 and 25 of the Bribery Commission Act.