A hotel and several houses linked to public officials are under investigation by Sri Lanka’s Bribery commission as part of the first cases filed under the country’s new Proceeds of Crime law, Director General Ranga Dissanayake said.
In total, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is examining four cases under the law, which gives the state power to confiscate assets if owners cannot justify how they were obtained.
Unlike criminal trials that demand proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the law allows confiscation on the principle of a “balance of probabilities.” Suspects must demonstrate the legitimate source of their wealth or risk losing it, even without a conviction. (Newswire)