A former mobile inspector attached to the National Transport Commission (NTC) has been sentenced to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of soliciting and accepting a Rs. 20,000 bribe from a private bus owner.
Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Mihal imposed the sentence on Ranjith Kotupitiya, who was convicted on four charges filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
However, the court ordered that the 16-year prison sentence be served concurrently, meaning the convict will serve an effective prison term of four years.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 20,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional eight months of imprisonment.
The case relates to an incident on or around March 18, 2015, involving a semi-luxury private bus operating between Colombo and Bibile.
During a routine inspection, NTC officers discovered that the bus was carrying 13 passengers above its permitted capacity, with several passengers travelling while standing.
The officers subsequently took possession of the bus’s route permit.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Kotupitiya, who was attached to the NTC’s Narahenpita head office, contacted the bus owner and demanded Rs. 20,000 in exchange for not taking legal action over the violation.
The money was subsequently deposited into the bank account of another mobile inspector working with the accused.
Following a lengthy trial, the judge ruled that the prosecution had proven all four charges beyond reasonable doubt and imposed the sentences. (Newswire)
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