Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen, has been granted bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. The former Minister was accused of misusing 222 buses belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) to transport IDPs from Puttalam to polling stations in Silavathurai, Mannar during the 2019 Presidential Election.
Update:
Rishad granted bail
SHAVINI MADHARA
Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, who was remanded over the alleged misuse of buses belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) during the Presidential Election last year, was released on bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage yesterday.
He was released on a cash bail of Rs.100,000 and two sureties of Rs.1,000,000 each.
The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on him and ordered to hand over his passport to the court.
The Ex-Minister is charged with Criminal misappropriation of Public Funds to the tune of Rs.9.5 million and violation of Election laws with regard to the transport of IDPs in CTB buses to vote at the 2019 Presidential Election.
Former Minister of Rishad Bathiudeen, the director of the project Mohomed Yaseen Samsudeen and the project accountant Alagarathnam Manoranjan are accused of violating Article 82(1) of Presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981 by misappropriating public funds. President’s Counsel Anil Silva appearing on behalf of the former minister Rishad Bathiudeen pleaded to release his client on bail considering the COVID-19 pandemic situation as a special circumstance.
However the Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Piries appearing on behalf of the Attorney General raised objections towards the request made by the defence counsel. Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage also ordered the further remand of project accountant Alagarathnam Manoranjan till December 08.
The Magistrate fixed further inquiries for February 22, 2021.
