Investigation underway into misappropriation of funds by police officers; two arrested

Police Headquarters has launched a special investigation to apprehend some Officers-in-Charge (OICs) who allegedly misappropriated funds allocated for removing posters, banners, and cut-outs during the last presidential election. The probe was prompted by the recent arrest of an Inspector of Police (IP) and a Woman Sub-Inspector (WSI) attached to a police station in the Bandarawela Division. They were accused of embezzling funds allocated by the government for the removal of unauthorised election related propaganda materials.

The IP, who is the OIC of the station, and the WSI have allegedly misappropriated over Rs. 100,000 by falsifying documents pertaining to payments made to workers. Their arrest followed an investigation launched following an anonymous petition.



The two suspects were produced before the Bandarawela Magistrate and were released on bail. A senior officer from Headquarters said it was possible the funds were misappropriated in that manner by other police personnel as well. As part of the probe, an audit of election-related expenses allocated to the OICs at police stations across the country during the last presidential election would be conducted, he added.

By Norman Palihawadane.