CIABOC to indict two top ex-govt. officials

The suspects originally solicited Rs.540 million to provide the necessary approvals for machinery and building space

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday informed Court that it would indict President Maithripala Sirisena’s former chief of staff and another state official on charges of accepting a bribe of Rs.20 million from an Indian businessman.

Bribery sleuth C. Chandrasiri told Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna that the investigations into the bribery allegations levelled at the two suspects -- President’s ex-chief of staff I.H.K. Mahanama and State Timber Corporation’s former head P. Dissanayake -- had been completed.

The suspects had originally solicited a bribe of Rs.540 million from the Indian businessman on the promise that they would provide the necessary approvals to obtain machinery and building space.

The case was fixed for September 10.