An Agricultural Research and Production Assistant has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption for allegedly soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs. 1.2 million to allocate a portion of state land for cultivation.

The arrest was made following a complaint lodged by a resident of the Mahawa area.

According to reports, the suspect had issued a receipt for lease payment on approximately 12 acres of a 20-acre plot of state land that had been unlawfully acquired and cultivated, in order to facilitate farming activities for the complainant.

A total of Rs. 3.5 million had been demanded for facilitating the necessary arrangements. Of this, Rs. 1 million had already been received, and from the remaining Rs. 2.5 million, Rs. 1.2 million was allegedly solicited and accepted as a bribe, leading to the arrest.

The suspect is identified as an Agricultural Research and Production Assistant attached to the Diyaluma Agrarian Services Centre.

He was apprehended at approximately 12:15 pm yesterday (16) inside a restaurant located along the Thanamalvila–Wellawaya main road, by officers of the Commission’s Investigation Division.

The arrested suspect is scheduled to be presented before the Wellawaya Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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