Bribery commission withdraws indictment against Land Commissioner General

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Bribery Commission yesterday informed Colombo High Court that it would be withdrawing the indictment filed against the incumbent Commissioner General of Land and six others.

The Land Commissioner General Bandula Jayasinghe took up an objection to the indictment, stating that the Director General of Bribery had not been appointed at the time he signed the indictment.

The seven persons including the Commissioner General of Land were indicted in Colombo High Court for a fraud that had taken place whilst they were employed at the Department of Motor Traffic.

The indictment said that employees of the Department of Motor Traffic had forged documents and registered a Mini Cooper, of which the original registration was a trishaw. The Supreme Court granted a stay order on the high court proceedings on the basis of the objection.

Counsel Hafeel Farisz with Sanjeewa Kodithuwakku appeared for the Commissioner General of Land. Counsel Sanjay Gamage appeared for the other accused. Counsel Anusha Sandarapperuma appeared for the Bribery Commission.