Corruption and extortion charges have been levelled against Minister Silva as well as by him against his political rivals – RTD. JUSTICE BALAPATABENDI
The Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption has begun investigations into charges of corrup
tion against Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva and several high ranking police officers on how they had accrued their assets, Commission’s Chairman, Retired Supreme Cour t Judge J de. S. Balapatabendi said.
Justice Balapatabendi told the Daily Mirror that inquires involving several serving and retired DIGS and SSPS had begun after receiving complaints about their assets allegedly amassed recently through undisclosed or unexplainable sources.
“Corruption and extor tion charges have been levelled against Minister Silva as well as by him against his political rivals. Inquires are underway on both complaints. If there is ample evidence, the legal branch of the Commission will take steps to file legal charges against them after a formal investigation,” he said.
Justice Balapatabendi lamented that bribery and corruption were on the rise and the conviction rate on cases filed by the Commission was only 47%.
“There has been a steady increase in bribery and corruption in the education system since late. The Commission receives complaints of bribe taking against school principals on a daily basis from parents. It seems a student cannot gain entry to school without greasing the palms of school principals or education officials,” Justice Balapatabendi said.
He said the Education Ministry had been clearly instructed that collecting money from parents to admit a child to school was a violation of the Bribery and Corruption Act.
“I have appointed three committees comprising our legal officers to propose amendments to the Commission’s Act, Bribery Act and the Declaration of Assets Act. The Commission cannot act on corruption or bribery without a duly made complaint even of an anonymous nature. The low conviction rate is due to the reluctance of witnesses to assist the case after the charges are filed,” he said.
The present Commission has registered 2,475 complaints since assuming duties on May 16, 2011 and 1,050 files have been referred to initiate investigations.
Cases of bribery or corruption have been filed in the High Cour t against 41 suspects and the number of cases pending is 54. The Commission receives nearly 10 complaints of bribery or corruption daily – many of them against school principals, police personnel and Grama Niladharis. The shor tage of staff – legal officers and investigation officers in par ticular – and lack of resources such as vehicles have affected the Commission’s services, Justice Balapatabendi said.
DailyMirror