New details emerge in Krrish case as Bribery Commission traces Rs. 70 million payment

New details have emerged in the investigation into the controversial Krrish transaction, with the Bribery Commission telling the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that a Rs. 70 million payment made by Krrish Transworks had not been credited to the bank account of Ceylon Premier Sports.

The disclosure was made as the case involving MP Namal Rajapaksa and former Krrish director Janaki Siriwardena was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

According to submissions by Bribery Commission Assistant Legal Director Ama Wijesinghe, investigators had examined the bank account of Ceylon Premier Sports at Sampath Bank and found that the Rs. 70 million provided by Krrish had not been deposited into the organisation’s account.

The commission told court that Ceylon Premier Sports had been established under Rajapaksa’s leadership, while businessman Nimal Perera had served as its chairman. Rajapaksa had not held an official position in the organisation.

Investigators had also found no evidence that Krrish had provided sponsorship for the Carlton Super Sevens tournament, the commission said.

The court was further told that investigators had recorded a statement from an accountant of Krrish Transworks concerning a payment made to Nimal Perera in September 2012.

According to the commission, the accountant had described the transaction as a payment made outside the company’s normal procedure but said it had been processed following approval from the board of directors.

The money was subsequently credited to Perera’s account, despite him allegedly not providing any service to the company, the commission told court.

Another development disclosed during the hearing concerned a letter allegedly sent by Rajapaksa to Krrish on Dec. 15, 2012, thanking the company for providing the money.

The Bribery Commission said its investigation had found that the funds were not used for rugby and requested a court order to facilitate an examination of Rajapaksa’s handwriting as part of the investigation into the letter.

The commission also told court that it was taking steps to seek international Red Notices against former Krrish directors Amit Katyal and Rajendra Prasad Gupta, both Indian nationals, after they failed to appear before investigators despite notices being sent by email and air mail.

An attorney appearing for Katyal told court that his client had previously provided a statement to the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division when officers travelled to India in 2016 and said Katyal was currently unable to travel due to ill health.

The magistrate noted that the Bribery Commission had not sought a warrant against Katyal at Monday’s hearing and that an earlier request had been rejected due to insufficient material being presented.

President’s Counsel Ali Sabry, appearing for Rajapaksa, questioned how the payment could be treated as a bribe when the money had been provided under an agreement.

The court ordered the Bribery Commission to communicate its position on the suspects’ bail applications on Oct. 12. The order on the bail applications is due to be delivered on Oct. 16. (Newswire)

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