PC who fined minister’s driver charged with bribery

Police Constable Suminda Saman who issued a spot fine on Deputy Minister Hemal Gunasekara’s chauffeur for speeding on the Southern Expressway has been indicted in Colombo High Court by the director general of the Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption for allegedly taking a bribe in May 2009.

The Bribery Commission alleges that PC Suminda Saman of Gamagoda, Kalutara had taken a bribe of Rs. 1000, while Sub Inspector Dulshan Kumara Bandara of Galle had, on the same occasion, taken a bribe of Rs.10, 000 from a woman of Kitulawela, Kalutara who was engaged in the illicit liquor trade.
The Bribery Commission alleges that the two of them had taken the bribes and in order to produce fewer bottles of liquor in court than had been detected by them in the course of their duties in the police motorcycle unit of the Kalutara Division.

The case is to be heard before the Colombo High Court on August 21. (LS)