Man nabbed for soliciting bribe posing as land official

A broker who solicited and accepted a bribe of Rs. 45,000 has been arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The suspect was arrested today (06), following an investigation launched based on a complaint lodged by a resident of Norwood.

Investigations revealed that the suspect had impersonated an official from the Land Commissioner General’s Department and fraudulently claimed he could prepare a legal deed for a land without proper documentation or permits. Under this pretense, he had obtained a total of Rs. 275,000 from the complainant on several occasions.

Subsequently, the suspect had requested an additional Rs. 45,000, claiming it was required to be handed over to the Grama Niladhari to obtain a report related to the land in the Norwood division.

The suspect was arrested at the moment he accepted the bribe.

He has been identified as a broker from Gawarawila. The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Hatton Magistrate’s Court.