Police officer arrested over ‘air conditioner’ bribe
The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Negombo Division Crimes Investigation Unit has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on charges of soliciting a bribe of Rs. 270,000.
The suspect Police officer had been involved in settling a dispute over a missing vehicle. Acting on a complaint lodged with the Police, the officer had apprehended the suspects and recovered the car, and presenting them before the Negombo Court.
However, the complainant alleged that the officer had then demanded an air conditioner worth Rs. 270,000 as a bribe to facilitate the release of the vehicle through legal channels.
The complainant had been instructed to deposit the equivalent amount into a private bank account.
CIABOC disclosed that the amount requested was deposited into the account of the store manager where the complainant had purchased the air conditioner.
Further investigations into the incident are underway.