Asst. Director in bribery net

Bribery Commission Officers arrested an Assistant Director of the Land Reform Commission (LRC) who solicited Rs.500,000 as a bribe from five farmers, in Pottuvil last morning, Director Investigations of the 'Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption' SSP Nevil Guruge said.

The officer attached to the LRC Ampara district office had demanded Rs.100,000 as an advance from the farmers to distribute land for cultivation, Guruge said.

"He got the farmers to arrange a hotel in Pottuvil where he stayed over night with another LRC officer before he was arrested by the Bribery Commission officers yesterday morning," he said. The Executive Director of the LRC Colombo main office who was with him was also arrested, SSP Guruge said.They were to be produced before the Ampara Magistrate yesterday afternoon, he said.