Former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda Granted Bail

COLOMBO (News 1st):Former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, arrested by the Bribery Commission, was ordered to be released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today.

The former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, was arrested by the Bribery Commission this morning on charges of committing acts of corruption.

The allegation centers on the recruitment of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as an officer cadet in the executive branch of the Navy in 2006, despite him not meeting the required qualifications. 
It is alleged that corruption was committed by facilitating his participation in a training course at the Britannia Royal Naval College, funded by government money, in violation of established procedures.

The suspect was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court this afternoon by Deputy Director-General of the Bribery Commission, Ruwini Wickramasinghe.

The Deputy Director-General informed the court that the qualifications required for application to the executive branch of the Navy had been altered specifically to facilitate the recruitment of the suspect, Yoshitha Rajapaksa.

President's Counsel Shavindra Fernando appeared for the suspect and requested the court to grant him release on appropriate bail.

Having considered the submissions, the Chief Magistrate ordered the suspect to be released on bail. 

The case will be taken up again on August 4