Colombo High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige sentenced a female Education Regional Director to ten years rigorous imprisonment (RI) for soliciting a bribe from a female undergraduate promising a job in a state bank.

The accused Rohini Wasantha Kumaraihamy of Mahawa, a Regional Education Director from Nikaweratiya Educational zone was indicted by the Director-General of Commission Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

Bribery Commission Assistant Director-Legal, Manodhi Hewawasam led the prosecution in which the accused was convicted on four charges including soliciting a bribe of Rs. 300,000 and accepting Rs. 200,000 promising. The offences which were proven beyond reasonable doubts had been committed during June and July 2011.

According to the indictment the accused had solicited Rs. 300,000 and accepted Rs. 200,000 promising to get a job at the Bank of Ceylon for the complainant’s daughter who was reading for a degree in a state university. The accused had informed the father of the undergrad that she could find a job in the state bank and even sent his daughter to the World Trade Centre in Colombo for an interview.

At the end of the trial the defence counsel pleading in mitigation requested for a lenient sentence considering the age of the accused who was in her sixties now. High Court judge Patabendige delivering the judgment stated that the bribery and corruption are vices that plagued this society and the accused who was working in the hallowed education sector should have acted more responsibly and in an exemplary manner.

The convicted accused was sentenced to 10 years RI and also imposed two fines of Rs 20,000 and Rs 200,000 and one and half years RI in default.

Meanwhile, the accused is facing a similar case before the Colombo High Court. (Susitha Fernando)