Policeman Who Gave A Speeding Ticket To Hemal Gunasekera Indicted For Bribery Charges

The Police Constable who issued a speeding ticket o the Deputy Minister Hemal Gunasekara on the Southern Expressway hasbeen indicted before Colombo High Court by Bribery Commission regarding an allegation that he accepted a bribe of Rs.1000 from a businesswoman who was involved in producing illegal liquor on May 25, 2009.

The bribery commission charged that the Police Constable Suminda Saman and Sub Inspector Dulshan Kumara who were attached to the Kalutara Division’s motorcycles unit had accepted the bribes from the businesswoman of Kalutara on the promise that legal action would only be taken in respect of few liquor bottles.

The bribery commission alleged that Sub Inspetor had accepted an amount of Rs.10,000 as bribe while police constable Suminda Saman accepting a sum of Rs.1000.

After the Police constable issued a speeding ticket to Deputy Minister Hemal Gunasekera, he was assaulted by an unidentified group who also set fire on his vehicle. The deputy Minister, however, distanced himself from the allegation stating that he was a "vegetarian" who did not want to harm anyone.

Following the incident, Police started a separate inquiry into the conduct of the police officer on his avenues of income.