Police inspector remanded over alleged Rs. 1 million bribery

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, June 23 (Daily Mirror) - A Police Inspector attached to the Kalutara Special Crimes Investigation Unit was remanded till July 3 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva for allegedly accepting Rs. 1 million as part of a bribe demanded to facilitate the release of an illegally assembled van without instituting criminal proceedings.

The suspect, Police Inspector Udaya Kumara, was arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption at around 8.30 pm on June 22 while allegedly accepting the money at a hotel in Kalutara North.

The Magistrate also directed the Superintendent of Prisons to provide the suspect with necessary medical treatment if required.

Producing the suspect before court, the CIABOC informed the Magistrate that the arrest was made following an investigation initiated on a complaint lodged by a businessman.

The Commission stated that the suspect, who had been investigating a van alleged to have been illegally assembled, had demanded a bribe in exchange for refraining from filing criminal charges and instead ensuring that the vehicle would be released to its owner through two civil court proceedings.

According to the CIABOC, the suspect initially demanded Rs. 2 million when he met the complainant on Vesak Full Moon Poya day. After the complainant informed him that he could not afford that amount, the suspect allegedly reduced the demand to Rs. 1.5 million. As the complainant was still unable to pay, the amount was eventually negotiated down to Rs. 1 million. The complainant allegedly paid Rs. 100,000 as an initial instalment on the same day, while the balance was to be paid later.

The Commission further stated that the complainant had been introduced to the suspect through another vehicle trader, Rahula Siriwardena and that further investigations, including the examination of CCTV footage, were still underway. 

Accordingly, the CIABOC requested that the suspect be remanded.

No counsel appeared on behalf of the suspect. The suspect informed court that he had been unable to obtain legal representation.

Making submissions personally, the suspect denied accepting any money and stated that he had previously conducted an investigation involving Rahula Siriwardena.

Questioning the suspect, the Magistrate asked why a police officer had engaged in discussions with a suspect. 

In response, the Police Inspector stated that it was Rahula Siriwardena who had provided information regarding the van located in Peliyagoda and had informed him that the vehicle was not stolen but supported by lawful documentation.

Responding to the submissions, the CIABOC told court that it possessed telephone conversations and CCTV footage relating to the alleged demand for the bribe and that further investigations were continuing.

Having considered the submissions, the Magistrate ordered that the suspect be remanded till July 3.