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Mahinda’s ex-CSO granted bail

 Major Nevil Wanniarachchi, the ex-Chief Security Officer (CSO) of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was yesterday ordered to be released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate for alleged failure to declare assets and liabilities for five years.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed five corruption cases in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court against Major Nevil Wanniarachchi over non-declaration of assets and liabilities. The Bribery Commission alleged that Major Wanniarachchi had failed to declare his assets and liabilities for a period of five years since 2010 to 2014 while serving as an Army Major.

Wanniarachchi was ordered to be released on a cash bail of Rs.10,000 with two sureties of one million rupees in respect of each case by Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

Counsel Sampath Mendis appearing for the accused informed Court that his client was not pleading guilty to the charges and further said he was expecting to raise preliminary objections against the charge sheets on next hearing date. Further magisterial inquiry fixed for January 13 next year.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed charges against the former Minister in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court under Section 9 of the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Law No.1 of 1975.