Ragama Traffic OIC arrested for taking a bribe of Rs. 10,000

An Assistant Superintendent of Police of the Sri Lanka Police, who served as an officer-in-charge of a traffic division, was arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption last Tuesday (17) at around 6:30 PM. This raid was carried out based on a complaint made by a businessman residing in the Ragama area.

The complainant is a businessman in the Ragama market and, under a license from the Ja-Ela Pradeshiya Sabha, conducts his trade on the roads belonging to the market premises on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It is reported that the police officer in question had demanded a bribe to prevent other vehicles from parking on those roads, ensuring that traders and pedestrians could move without any obstruction. He had demanded Rs. 5,000 for each market day, totaling Rs. 10,000 for the two market days of the week.

According to the complaint, the suspect Assistant Superintendent of Police was arrested by officers of the Bribery Commission using a strategy at the moment he accepted the bribe. It is reported that the arrested suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.