Sri Lanka: Arjuna Ranatunga, a former cricket player, will be arrested in for allegedly engaging in an oil fraud

Sri Lanka: According to the Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s bribery commission announced on Monday that former cricket player and minister Arjuna Ranatunga would be taken into custody and appear in court after being identified as a suspect in a case involving the alleged loss of almost Rs. 800 million to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) due to the implementation of spot tenders at higher prices.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) notified the chief magistrate’s court on Monday that the former Ranatunga is being arrested, according to Daily Mirror.

When former Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Chairman Dhammika Ranatunga, who was detained on suspicion of corruption, appeared in court, Assistant Director-Legal Anusha Sammandapperuma revealed this to the court on behalf of the Bribery Commission, according to the Daily Mirror.

Assistant Director Anusha Sammanthapperuma told the court that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation had lost almost Rs. 800 million as a result of the later decision to move forward with spot tenders at higher prices after three long-term tenders for fuel procurement for the years 2017–2018 had been cancelled.

According to Daily Mirror, she said that Dhammika Ranatunga was detained and brought before the court on the basis of this accusation.

The former Minister of Petroleum Resources Development, Arjuna Ranatunga, has been designated as the second suspect, while the Chairman, Ranatunga, has been named as the first. She said that efforts are on to apprehend both individuals.

Sammanthapperuma said that since Arjuna Ranatunga is now abroad, he could not be detained and brought before the court on Monday.

She asked the court to step in and issue an order remanding the suspect, stating that the event is still being investigated.

The Daily Mirror further reported that President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, who was representing the suspect, told the court that his client has been assisting with the investigations and asked that he be freed on bail under appropriate terms in accordance with the Bail Act.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Chief Magistrate banned the suspect from traveling abroad and ordered the defendant’s release on two charges of Rs. 1 million each after reviewing the arguments.