Police reveal female accomplice in Welikada OIC bribery case

The Colombo Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (28) that a woman is also involved in the alleged bribery case where Welikada Police OIC got remanded.

The Welikada Police OIC was remanded earlier today till June 9, and was accused of an alleged bribery case where Rs. 300,000 per passport was allegedly demanded to release the passports of 19 Chinese nationals arrested in connection with an online scam, without producing them before court on the due date.

The CCIB told the court that investigations revealed the involvement of another woman in facilitating the return of the passports of the 19 Chinese nationals, and statement have already been recorded from her regarding the incident.

The suspect, Chief Inspector Saman Jayasinghe, was produced before court today after being arrested by the CCIB.

Investigators told court that the arrest was made following instructions from the Inspector General of Police.

The CCIB further informed the court that when they began investigations based on intelligence received, the passports had not yet been produced as case productions at that time.

However, they said that the suspect, in his capacity as OIC, later produced the passports as case evidence.

Investigators also told court that the OIC had informed the court about the 19 Chinese nationals only after a delay of 15 days.

They further alleged that the court was misled and that the 19 Chinese nationals were given an opportunity to abscond.

Police also stated that another woman had been involved in facilitating the return of the passports, and statements have been recorded from her.

President’s Counsel Kaushalya Navaratne, appearing for the suspect, told court that his client is a person of good character who performed his duties properly.

He further argued that the situation behind the incident was different from what was being presented, and that the passports of the Chinese nationals had been in police custody.

After considering submissions, the Magistrate ordered the CCIB to submit a report on the mobile phone records of the suspect as well as the officers involved in the investigation.

The court also ordered a travel ban on the 19 Chinese nationals involved in the case.

The Magistrate further directed that a full investigation be carried out and a report submitted at the next hearing, and ordered that the suspect be remanded until the 9th.

Earlier, 120 foreign nationals involved in alleged illegal financial scams and unlawful activities were arrested by Welikada Police at an apartment complex on Middle Welikada Road in Rajagiriya, remanded, and later released on bail.

The group included nationals from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Madagascar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia, and the investigation into that case was conducted by the Welikada Police OIC.