The Bribery Commission today alleged that Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Gampaha district Parliamentarian Milan Jayatilleka has exerted undue influence on a key witness in the bribery case.
The Bribery Commission revealed these information at the pre-trial stage in connection with the bribery case filed against two accused including SLPP Parliamentarian Milan Jayatilleka.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations against Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) had filed an indictment against Parliamentarian Milan Jayatillake and Ajith Sisira Kumara for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 600,000 from a businessman as a gratification to issue a permit for a quarry while they were serving as the Chairman of Dompe Pradeshiya Sabha and a member of PS respectively in 2012.
The Bribery Commission informed court that in unprecedented move, the complainant party made a request with an affidavit urging to withdraw the case.
The Bribery Commission further said it compelled to conduct an inquiry regarding this affidavit since it has taken a different stance after the lapse of ten years.
However, the Bribery Commission maintained that the affidavit submitted by the complaint party would not be an obstacle for the maintainability of the case since it had been filed due to the influence of the defence.
High Court Judge Nawaratne Marasinghe observed that an accused who was interfering with the witnesses could be remanded following the cancellation of bail. The case was fixed for trial on November 23. The main witness in the case was noticed to appear in court on the next hearing date.