A former Commissioner (Investigations) of the Department of Land Title Settlement has been arrested by the Bribery Commission over allegations involving a government-owned property in Borella valued at more than Rs. 1.58 billion.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) said Nishantha Mohan Wickramasinghe was arrested by its investigating officers at around 9.45 am today (29).

According to the Bribery Commission, the suspect is accused of misusing his official authority while serving as Commissioner (Investigations) by using the department’s letterhead to issue an investigation report under an irregular investigation number.

The report had allegedly represented a 1.0982-hectare government-owned property at Assessment No. 30, Elliott Road, Borella, as land belonging to a private party.

The property has an estimated market value of Rs. 1.586 billion.

The Bribery Commission alleges that the actions caused a loss to the Government while providing a benefit to another party, amounting to an alleged offence of corruption.

The suspect is due to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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