REVERSE TRAFFIC CASE AT BORELLA POLICE

Claim of 10 lakhs from Borella police ....
for false traffic charge

   The normal procedure when violating traffic rules is to pay the fine according to police rules or to appear in courts and to prove one's innocence. But if the police would complain unreasonably that traffic rules have been violated, what would be the position? Those who speak against the police are rare. A case is reported of an Engineer and businessman from Kalutara area who had filed legal action against Borella police claiming 10 lakhs for having made false charges of violating road rules.

  An Engineer of Kalutara, Mr.Udaka Chirantha and an Ayurvedic businessman, Jagath de Almeida had filed legal action against Borella police for having being disappointed that though he had driven while the green light was on at the Borella Senanayaka traffic lights junction, because of the false allegation that he had driven the vehicle when the red light was on and when in response he had denied the charges, he and members of his family had been verbally abused; further, he had been taken to Borella police station and detained there for 24 hours without rhyme or reason. He had asked that a compensation of 10 lakhs be paid by the OIC of Borella police including others for having violated his fundamental rights.

   The OIC of the traffic division including 5 officers have been petitioned against in this instance. The petitioner had said that he had been to Dankotuwa church to attend a service last July 6th and was returning home and was driving home when the green light was on at the Senanayaka traffic lights at the Borella junction when he was falsely charged for having driven the vehicle when the red light was on and had been arrested by the 2 police officers who were on duty there. Though he explained the true situation, they were not interested in giving ear to him. They had then got into his vehicle and had taken them to the police station, scolding in the most indecent language in the presence of members of his family.

   It has been said that, later he had been taken to Borella police station and detained there for a period of 24 hours during which time the OIC had approached him and had scolded him in harsh words and had then produced him in courts making a complaint about his negligence. It is explained that he was released on bail in this connection and the petition sent by him to the judiciary requests that an inquiry be held about violation of his fundamental rights and that the police officers pay him a sum of 10 lakhs compensatuion.