Former Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), has been released on bail.
Fernando was taken into custody in connection with the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 105 million allocated in 2013 by the Ministry of Ports and Highways for urban and rural road development within the Moratuwa Municipal Council. Investigators allege that the funds were improperly awarded to eight favored contractors, causing financial losses to the government.
The Magistrate ordered his release on three surety bails of Rs. 1 million each and a cash bail of Rs. 50,000. In addition, the court imposed a foreign travel ban on the suspect.
Court proceedings revealed that the arrest followed an investigation into a complaint lodged in 2013 by several former municipal councillors with the Presidential Secretariat, through the Provincial Commissioner of Local Government.
