Former Mayor of Moratuwa Municipal Council, Saman Lal Fernando, who was arrested earlier today (10) by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, has been remanded until September 23 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.
He was taken into custody in connection with allegations that 112 contracts under the Urban Internal Roads and Rural Road Development Programme were awarded at his discretion to 12 community-based organisations.
The Bribery Commission informed the court that the suspect had made payments in violation of regulations, diverting funds to third parties not bound by the relevant contracts.
It was further submitted that the former Mayor had unlawfully and improperly intervened in the projects, thereby committing offences amounting to corruption.
