Delay in investigations
Out of 1440 complaints received by the Police Commission last year, only 888 have been investigated, according to a member of the Commission. The complaints related to bribery and corruption, wrongfully detaining persons, disinterest shown by the police and partisan attitude.
More: Ravaya 9 November
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Provincial labs face threat of closure
Several government provincial hospitals are faced with the threat of the laboratories being closed down due to increased charges following the installation of expensive new equipment. Health Ministry sources suspect that there had been a fraudulent deal over purchasing equipment.
More: Lanka 9 November
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Caught in the act
A security officer at the Getambe Sarasavi Park school was taken in while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 promising to get a child admitted to Grade 1. The child’s father had alerted the Bribery Commission and the officers were there to nab the culprit.
More: Lakbima 8 November www.lakbima.lk
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Water in place of fuel?
A person who had obtained over a million rupees from a businessman promising to obtain necessary technology to make a vehicle run on water has been remanded by the Colombo additional magistrate.
More: Lakbima 8 November www.lakbima.lk
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MP questioned for four hours
Member of Parliament Sarana Gunawardena was questioned by the Bribery Commission for four hours over a complaint that he has amassed wealth by wrongful means.
More: Lakbima 8 November www.lakbima.lk
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Two Police officers taken in
The Bribery Commission has taken into custody two Police officers serving in Gampola and Tangalle – one for soliciting a bribe of Rs 5,000 promising a person to help in a fraud case and the other for demanding Rs 20,000 promising to settle a complaint.
More: Lankadipa 7 November www.lankadipa.lk
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Sentenced to 215 years
A businessman who faced 43 charges in a fraud case was sentenced to 215 years rigorous imprisonment and fined 4.3 million rupees by the Panadura provincial high court judge. Having obtained goods worth Rs 3 million from another businessman, the suspect had issued cheques which had bounced.
More: Divaina 6 November www.divaina.lk
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Tries to sell child for Rs 65,000
Seven suspects who were in remand custody for trying to sell a three month old baby for 65,000 rupees were released on bail by the Kalutara chief magistrate. The suspects included the child’s mother.
More: Lankadipa 5 November www.lankadipa.lk
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Drug dealer nabbed
A drug dealer in the Dematagoda area who had the backing of an influential minister was nabbed by the Police Anti-Drug Unit with a stock of heroin worth over Rs 1.5 million while transporting. He has been a prominent dealer distributing drugs in and around Colombo.
More: Lakbima 4 November www.lakbima.lk
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Bribery probe on three state bodies
The Bribery Commission has planned to probe three government institutions where corruption and malpractices had been highlighted by COPE in its second report. Meanwhile, the Commission’s investigation report into four government bodies highlighted in the first COPE report has been forwarded to Parliament.
More: Daily Mirror 3 November www.dailymirror.lk