A Sri Lanka Customs security officer has been remanded until 27 November over an allegation that he solicited and accepted a Rs 30,000 bribe to hand over the paperwork needed to release two motorcycles imported from Japan.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama made the order on Thursday after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) presented its case, Hiru News reported.
What the Commission alleges
According to CIABOC, the officer asked for and took Rs 15,000 for each of two motorcycles — Rs 30,000 in total — in exchange for providing the documents required to clear them through Customs.
The motorcycles had been imported from Japan by the complainant’s nephew and a friend of his.
The officer was arrested on 12 November at about 2.25pm, inside Sri Lanka Customs head office.
A note on the charge
The allegation as Hiru reports it concerns payment for the release of documents in a clearance that was otherwise proceeding — not payment to let the motorcycles through without proper documentation. The distinction matters: nothing in the filing alleges that the vehicles themselves were irregularly imported, or that the importers were party to any offence.
Not reported
The filing does not name the officer or give his rank or length of service, and does not say whether he has been interdicted. It does not say how the complaint reached CIABOC, whether the money was recovered, or whether the motorcycles have since been released. No plea has been reported, and the filing does not say under which section of the Bribery Act the case was filed.
A check of the Daily Mirror breaking and business rails at the time of writing found no independent filing on the arrest. Ada Derana, which commonly carries CIABOC court items, remains unreachable to this desk.