The Colombo High Court has sentenced a Divisional Development Officer to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment after he was found guilty of soliciting a sexual bribe from a 30-year-old mother who sought government financial assistance for her 7-year-old child’s kidney surgery.
Delivering the verdict, High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige ordered that the sentence be served within 10 years. Additionally, the judge instructed the Election Commission to revoke the civil rights of the convict, including his right to vote, and imposed a fine of Rs. 20,000.
The judge noted that as a government official, the convict had a duty to fulfill his responsibilities with integrity, and soliciting a sexual bribe from a vulnerable woman was entirely unacceptable. Highlighting the severity of the offense, the judge stated there was no room for a lenient punishment.
The incident occurred on March 31, 2015, when the officer allegedly demanded a sexual bribe in exchange for approving the required financial aid. He took the woman to a hotel in the Tissamaharama area, where officers from the Bribery Commission apprehended him.
Following an extensive trial, the High Court determined that the charges had been proven beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction and sentencing. (Newswire)