COLOMBO, Sept. 8 -- A Colombo High Court office assistant has been arrested and remanded over allegations that he accepted Rs 750,000 to arrange a suspended prison sentence for former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, who was convicted on 18 charges relating to the misuse of vehicles belonging to the board and sentenced to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The office assistant was arrested on Tuesday (8) by investigators attached to the Commission to Investigation Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and was subsequently produced before court, which ordered that he be remanded in custody.

The arrest was carried out following an investigation launched into a complaint made by Colombo High Court Judge Rashantha Godawela, before whom th...