The case filed against former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabral and several others for allegedly causing losses to the government by investing over Rs. 1.84 billion in Sri Lankan government bonds in Greece in 2012, when Greece was facing a severe economic crisis, was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Mihal today.
The Bribery Commission, which had briefed the court on the matter, informed the court that it would withdraw the chargesheets filed against the defendants. Accordingly, the Colombo High Court today (10) ordered the release of former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabral after the Bribery Commission withdrew the charges against him under Section 67(3) of the Anti-Corruption Act.
The Bribery Commission states that in terms of Section 67(3) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the accused must deposit the amount of Rs. 1,843,267,595.65 (1.8 billion) as a penalty in this case into the account of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka within 3 months from the date of withdrawal of the indictment against him. In case of failure to do so, action will be taken against him under Section 67(5) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Bribery Commission said in a statement.