SI and Constable arrested for assault and robbery at police roadblock

A Sub Inspector (SI) and a Constable attached to the Marawila police have been arrested for allegedly assaulting an individual and robbing Rs 92, 000 he had in his possession. 

The two arrested officers had committed the crime while on duty at the Mahawewa police roadblock on Monday (20).

The victim who was assaulted and robbed is a resident of Negombo. He had been on his way home on Monday when his motorbike had accidently knocked the signal lamp at the roadblock, breaking it. 

After the lamp was broken, it is alleged that the officers under arrest had detained the victim and demanded that he purchase a new signal lamp. The victim had tried to find a new lamp to purchase but had been unsuccessful, whereupon he had been forced to go to Colombo and purchase a new lamp for Rs 1800. 

Once he had returned with the lamp however, the police officers had demanded that he pay them a further Rs 500 to install the lamp. When the victim had stated that he did not have more money to give them, the enraged officers had allegedly assaulted him. 

During the assault, a purse containing Rs 92, 000 belonging to the victim had fallen on the ground. The victim had begged the officers to hand it over to him as the money was for paying off a debt, but the officers had allegedly refused. They are then alleged to have split the money amongst themselves. 

Three officers had been on duty at the checkpoint. However, one of the Constables, a young officer who had only recently joined the force, had disapproved of the conduct of the other two officers. He had made a complaint over the incident to the Headquarters Inspector (HQI) of the Marawila police later that day, resulting in the arrest of the SI and the other Constable.  

The two suspects are due to be produced before the Marawila Magistrate today (22). 

Text and Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe