The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has arrested a former Commissioner (Investigations) of the Department of Land Title Settlement in connection with the alleged unlawful transfer of high-value State-owned land valued at approximately Rs. 1.59 billion.
The former official faces charges of abusing his public position by utilizing official departmental letterheads to prepare and issue an unauthorized investigation report under an irregular investigation number. Through this fabricated documentation, a State-owned land parcel measuring 1.0982 hectares (around 2.7 acres) situated at Assessment No. 30, Elliot Place, Borella, was improperly classified and presented as private property.
Key Developments
- CIABOC arrested the former Commissioner (Investigations) of the Department of Land Title Settlement over an alleged fraudulent land transfer valued at Rs. 1.59 billion.
- The suspect allegedly utilized departmental letterheads and an irregular file number to misrepresent 1.0982 hectares (approximately 2.7 acres) at Assessment No. 30, Elliot Place, Borella, as private land.
- The transaction conferred an illicit benefit to a private party while causing extensive financial loss to the State, constituting an offence of corruption under governing anti-corruption legislation.
According to CIABOC, the illicit conversion led to significant financial detriment to the State while extending an unlawful advantage to a private recipient, establishing a formal corruption offence. Following the arrest, the suspect was slated to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.