The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has informed court that investigations have revealed suspect Charith Abeysinghe allegedly used bribery money obtained from the wife of alleged underworld figure and drug trafficker Nadun Chinthaka, alias “Harak Kata”, to purchase a luxury Range Rover Freelander SUV and construct a luxury house in Kahathuduwa.
The Commission further informed court that another suspect, Aruna Sri Chathuranga Varushahennadi, had allegedly purchased a black BMW 7 Series luxury car using the same funds. Investigators recovered the vehicle while it was undergoing repairs at his residence.
The submissions were made during proceedings relating to an alleged scheme in which attorney-at-law Rakhitha Rajapaksa, son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Charith Abeysinghe and another suspect are accused of obtaining more than Rs. 120 million from Harak Kata’s wife, Maheshika Madhuwanthi, after claiming they could prevent him from being killed by police, secure his release from prison and influence senior politicians, ministry officials and top police officers.
According to CIABOC, the main prosecution witness, Herath Mudiyanselage Konaragedara Nirmana Indrajith Bandara, alias “Herby”, told investigators that Abeysinghe and Rakhitha Rajapaksa claimed they were acting on behalf of then Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and had the backing of the Attorney General’s Department to arrange Harak Kata’s release.
Investigators told court that the suspects allegedly claimed Harak Kata’s life had already been safeguarded and demanded Rs. 50 million purportedly to be paid to former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon. They further claimed another Rs. 50 million was required to secure the removal of Harak Kata’s detention order within three months through then Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake. According to the witness, the suspects allegedly said the money would be channelled through Sagala Ratnayaka because the Presidential Secretary would not accept money directly.
CIABOC further stated that the suspects allegedly demanded an additional Rs. 50 million to influence officials attached to the Ministry of Justice and Prisons to transfer Harak Kata from Boossa Prison to an ordinary prison, and another Rs. 50 million to be distributed among several Criminal Investigation Department officers, including officers identified as Prasad Ranasinghe and Thusitha Kahagalla.
The Commission also informed court that Rakhitha Rajapaksa allegedly told Harak Kata’s wife: “My father will handle his side of this. I will take care of what needs to be done through him, and I will also handle the Attorney General’s side. Therefore, arrange the money as soon as possible.”
CIABOC further alleged that the suspects intimidated Maheshika Madhuwanthi by referring to the death of alleged organised crime figure Makandure Madush while in police custody and by invoking the names of senior political leaders, prison officials and security authorities to persuade her to hand over the money.
According to investigators, after Maheshika said she did not possess such a large sum, the suspects reduced their demand from Rs. 300 million to Rs. 200 million before finally agreeing to accept Rs. 120 million as an advance payment.
The Commission said Maheshika subsequently handed over the equivalent of Rs. 100 million in UAE dirhams at Herby’s residence in Dubai, which Rakhitha Rajapaksa, Charith Abeysinghe and Aruna Varushahennadi allegedly transferred to Sri Lanka through the Undiyal system. She later provided a further Rs. 20 million in dirhams.
However, investigators told court that the suspects failed to fulfil their promises by neither securing the removal of Harak Kata’s detention order nor arranging his transfer from Boossa Prison. Instead, he remained in custody.
When Maheshika repeatedly demanded the return of her money, Abeysinghe allegedly informed her that a portion had already been handed over to Rakhitha Rajapaksa and therefore could not be recovered. He also allegedly said he would attempt to recover at least Rs. 20 million from Rajapaksa.
Investigators further revealed that Abeysinghe later arranged for Rs. 20 million to be returned to Maheshika through an associate of Herby, while the remaining funds were allegedly retained by the suspects and used for their personal expenses.
Meanwhile, preliminary investigations based on records obtained from the Department of Immigration and Emigration revealed that Charith Abeysinghe, Rakhitha Rajapaksa and Aruna Varushahennadi travelled to Dubai via Bandaranaike International Airport on March 25, 2023, and returned to Sri Lanka on March 29, 2023, corroborating key aspects of the investigation, CIABOC told court.
