Basil Rajapaksa bail money has been forfeited after repeated court absences, while three sureties paid Rs. 300,000 and his warrant was extended.
Basil Rajapaksa bail money has been forfeited after the former Economic Development Minister repeatedly failed to appear before the Matara Magistrate’s Court in a land-related case.
Matara Chief Magistrate Chatura Dissanayake ordered the forfeiture in connection with proceedings over the purchase of a one-and-a-half-acre coconut property at Brown’s Hill in Matara for Rs. 60 million.
The court also moved to recover the bail amount from the three sureties who had appeared on Rajapaksa’s behalf.
Sureties Ordered to Pay Basil Rajapaksa Bail
The Magistrate considered Rajapaksa’s repeated failure to attend court before issuing directions to the three sureties.
Each surety had signed a bond worth Rs. 100,000.
The court warned that failure to settle the required amount could result in the sum being treated as a penalty, with each surety facing up to six months’ imprisonment.
Following the warning, the three sureties paid the full Rs. 300,000 to court on the same day.
The original account stated the amount as both Rs. 300,000 and Rs. 3 million. However, three bonds of Rs. 100,000 each total Rs. 300,000.
The payment settled the sureties’ liability arising from the forfeited bail amount.
Open Warrant Extended Until October 27
Chief Magistrate Chatura Dissanayake also extended the open warrant previously issued for Basil Rajapaksa’s arrest.
The warrant will remain in force until October 27.
Authorities issued the warrant after Rajapaksa failed to appear before court in connection with the Brown’s Hill land transaction case.
Officers representing the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division appeared for the prosecution together with representatives of the Attorney General’s Department.
A legal team also appeared for Rajapaksa under the instructions of President’s Counsel Anil de Silva.
The court fixed October 27 as the next date for the case.
The latest order means the former minister’s continued absence has now resulted in both the forfeiture of his bail and the extension of the warrant for his arrest.
The proceedings remain before the court, and no finding of guilt has been made regarding the underlying land transaction.
