The Chairman of the National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) and one other person arrested over allegedly accepting a bribe to expedite the process of renting out a restaurant at a farm in Melsiripura have been further remanded until 23rd October as per the order of Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

When the case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake, today (18), officials of the Bribery Commission requested the court to further remand the suspects as the investigation s regarding the incident are still underway.

However, the defense counsel applied for grant of bail on behalf of their clients.

Considering the points presented Magistrate issued an order to further remand the 2 suspects until the 23rd of October and stated that the decision on the bail applications will be announced on the day.

NLDB Chairman K. Muthuvinayagam and the suspect were arrested by officers of the Bribery Commission while accepting a sum of Rs 600,000 as a bribe from a businessman, an official said.

The Chairman had reportedly initially requested for a bribe of Rs 1.2 million to expedite the process renting out the restaurant at the farm, which belongs to the National Livestock Development Board, for a period of 2 years.

Later, he had agreed to bring it down to Rs 600,000 and was arrested by the Bribery Commission while soliciting the bribe through another individual.