A disaster relief officer attached to the Monaragala Divisional Secretariat, a Grama Niladhari, and a civilian accused of soliciting and accepting bribes from compensation payments provided to houses damaged by Cyclone Ditwah were remanded until 9 June by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama yesterday (25).
Former Disaster Relief Services Officer of the Monaragala Divisional Secretariat, Weerasinghe Rajendra Sumith Weerasinghe, Thanamalvila Grama Niladhari Nimal Walisundara, and civilian Krus Vincent were remanded in connection with two cases filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
Presenting facts to court regarding the complaint against the disaster relief officer, CIABOC alleged that the suspect had demanded and accepted a Rs. 1 million bribe when releasing the first instalment of the Government’s Rs. 5 million compensation package for damaged houses.
The commission told court that the complainant was a low-income recipient, making the alleged conduct particularly concerning.
It further stated that the Government was due to provide the complainant with second and third compensation instalments of Rs. 1.5 million each, and that the suspect had allegedly demanded a further Rs. 1 million in bribes — Rs. 500,000 from each instalment.
CIABOC requested that the suspect be remanded, citing ongoing investigations.
Regarding the complaint against the Thanamalvila Grama Niladhari and the civilian suspect, the commission alleged that the two had sought and accepted a Rs. 1 million bribe from the first compensation instalment of Rs. 2 million.
The commission informed court that statements from officials of the Divisional Secretariat were yet to be recorded and that further investigations were continuing. It added that the suspects had been arrested following an investigation conducted by CIABOC’s Open Complaints Investigation Division.
Appearing for the suspects, Attorney-at-Law Nalin de Silva argued that the arrests had been carried out by the Bribery Commission after the incident received wide media attention.
He stated that his clients had instructed him that they had not accepted any bribe and maintained that the Grama Niladhari had neither solicited nor accepted bribe money at any stage. Counsel requested bail for the suspects.
Responding, CIABOC told court that suspect Vincent had admitted that bribe money had been received.
After considering submissions from both parties, the Magistrate rejected the bail applications and ordered that the suspects be remanded until 9 June.
The court also directed CIABOC to submit a progress report on the investigations on that date. (Courtesy: Lankadeepa)
