• Include businessman and rtd. Health Min. Chief Clark seeking Rs. 25 m 
• Indian duo nabbed with drugs; Customs finds 52 kg drugs worth Rs. 536 m shipped from Malaysia 
• Lorry driver arrested for assaulting cops 

A businessman has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over allegations of accepting a bribe amounting to Rs. five million. According to the CIABOC, the suspect had allegedly accepted the bribe in return for providing assistance to secure bail for an individual who had been arrested and remanded by the Illegal Assets or Property Investigation Division. He had also reportedly promised to facilitate measures to prevent the arrest of the suspect’s family members. The arrested individual has been identified as a businessman residing in the Colombo 12 area. After being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court (MC), the suspect has been remanded until 13 March.

Meanwhile, a retired Chief Clerk of the Health Ministry has been arrested by the CIABOC on charges of accepting a bribe exceeding Rs. 20 million. It is reported that the suspect was arrested by officers of the CIABOC at the cafeteria of the Ministry. According to reports, in 2018, after a building from a private institution was obtained on a rent for the Ministry, the suspect had allegedly demanded this bribe in order to ensure that rent payments made by the Ministry through cheques were issued without delay. After being produced before the Colombo Chief MC, the arrested suspect has been remanded until 17 March.

Elsewhere, two Indian nationals who attempted to smuggle a consignment of narcotics into the country have been arrested by officers of the Customs Narcotics Control Unit on Wednesday (4). The suspects, aged 26 and 37, had arrived from Thailand onboard the Thai AirAsia FD 142 flight. Upon inspection, Customs officers had discovered substantial quantities of narcotic substances concealed in their hand luggage. One passenger was found in possession of 1,525 grams (g) of ‘Kush’ cannabis, with an estimated street value of Rs. 15,250,000, along with 182 g of hashish valued at approximately Rs. 1,820,000. The other passenger was apprehended with 1,513 g of ‘Kush’ cannabis, estimated to be worth Rs. 15,130,000. Following preliminary investigations, the duo, along with the seized narcotics, were handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) for further investigations and the initiation of legal proceedings.

Moreover, Customs officers attached to a warehouse in Peliyagoda have detected over 52 kilograms (kg) of narcotics concealed in assorted food packages shipped from Malaysia through air cargo. During an examination conducted on Wednesday, Customs officers have found approximately 51.07 kg of hashish, with an estimated street value of Rs. 510.7 million and 1.07 kg of crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’) valued at approximately Rs. 25.4 million. The total estimated value of the seized narcotics amounts to Rs. 536.1 million, the Customs said. The packages have been addressed to four individuals residing in Colombo 10, 14 and 15. Following preliminary investigations, the suspects, together with the seized narcotics have been handed over to the PNB for further investigation.

Also, a lorry driver who allegedly assaulted two Police officers and tore their uniforms has been arrested by the Kalutara South Police. According to the Police, the incident had occurred when the two officers attempted to arrest the driver for reckless driving. The suspect has been identified as a 31-year-old resident of Payagala. The suspect was driving the lorry towards Katukurunda when he was stopped at a roadblock at the Nagoda Junction. The assault reportedly took place following an argument that arose during the inspection. The two injured Police officers were admitted to the Nagoda Teaching Hospital for treatment. One of the officers had sustained a cut on his left hand. The suspect was scheduled to be produced before the Kalutara MC.