Thursday, 2 April 2015 00:38
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Former Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama was yesterday released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate over a case of financial fraud made against him relating to a period in 2006 when the Board of Investment (BOI) was under his purview.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed action in the Magistrate’s Court on 24 March against him on charges of intimidating the then Chairman of the Board of Investments (BOI) to allocate funds additional to those required for a promotional program in London in 2006 when he was the Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister.
According to reports, the Bribery Commission yesterday informed the court that the former minister had influenced the then BOI Chairman to approve the extra funds. Bogollagama is also charged with spending an extra cost of Rs. 1,170,474 other than the approved fee for accommodation, during a tour of London.
Bogollagama was released on a Rs. 50,000 bail and two surety bails of Rs. one million each and was prohibited from leaving the country.