COLOMBO: Bribery sleuths yesterday arrested two more senior Customs officers involved in accepting a bribe of Rs. 125 million from a foreign company on October 15 last year.
According to a Commission to Investigate the Allegations of Bribery or Corruption spokesman, these two senior Customs officials were arrested last morning.
Three senior officers of Sri Lanka Customs were arrested on October 15 by the Customs sleuths while accepting a bribe of Rs. 125 million from a foreign company at a location in Colombo. According to Bribery Commission officials, these Customs officers had informed this foreign company that a post audit had found that a payment of Rs. 1,500 million was required for the release of a consignment of spare parts, to be used by the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB). When the company officials informed Customs officials that they are not legally bound to make a such payment, these officials have agreed to waive off the payment, expecting a gratification of Rs. 150 million.
The company officials have negotiated with Customs officials to reduce the bribe to Rs. 125 million after making the complaint to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption
These three officials were arrested while accepting the bribe at a location in Colombo on October 15.