ASP caught red-handed

by Ranil Wijayapala

The Bribery sleuths attached to the Bribery Commission went into action within 24 hours after receiving a complaint from a woman, had a prize catch on Friday as they arrested the most senior ASP in Nugegoda Police Division when he was accepting Rs. One million bribe from a woman near a temple in Wijerama, Nugegoda, official from the Bribery Commission told the Sunday Observer.

The official said that was the most senior Police officer arrested by the Bribery sleuths in the recent past with a such a huge sum as a bribe.

According to official, the ASP had interfered in a matter relating to the ownership of a 38 perch land and three story building which serves for cancer patients attending the Cancer hospital for medication.

The priest who was in charge of the place has passed away few months back and had given that land in a deed to a lady related to that priest. However, a disciple of that priest, apparently a drug addict in robes, had attempted to take over the ownership after the death of the priest.

He had made that attempt with the support of some Police officers despite the fact that was given in a deed to the lady.

The arrested ASP in charge of Mirihana and Maharagama Police stations had interfered in this matter and threaten the lady that she would be remanded if she interferes into that property claiming that the real owner of the property is the disciple of the dead priest under Vihara Devalagam Act. To avoid such arrest he has demanded Rs.20 lacks as a bribe from the lady who is not that educated.

The Police officers entangled in the affair were aware that Rs.7.8 million has been deposited by the previous owner of the place in favour of the daughter of that lady in a bank account.

However, a complaint was lodged at the Bribery Commission on Thursday in this regard and the bribery sleuths went with the lady arrested the ASP as she was handing over Rs.10 lack bribe to the ASP in the presence of the Bribery sleuths.