Preliminary investigations of bribery could take two to three years

Ishara Jayawardane - Daily News

Director General of the Bribery Commission, Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasingha, yesterday told the Daily News that preliminary investigations of Bribery and Corruption allegations could at least take two to three years.

She made this remark when asked about the ‘delay’ on the part of the Bribery Commission when conducting investigations into complaints received by the commission.

“For example, when the information is received, that information is first registered in the secretariat.

“Then the file is sent to the commissioners for its direction. All these procedures are there in the law. This process takes some time,” the Director General explained.

“The commissioners will thereafter direct me as to what I should do. If the information that is there is scarce, then we have to do a preliminary investigation. And to do a preliminary investigation, it takes three to four years”.

“So we have to collect information When that information is received, the inquiring officer has to prepare a report,” she said.

That report has to be prepared by the Director Investigations. The file then comes to me and I have to prepare my recommendations.

Then, the file goes to the commissioners.” she also added. “At that particular moment, based on the information the commission has gathered, the commissioners will decide on the manner in which we should proceed with the investigation. Sometimes we have to close the file due to lack of evidence and sometimes we are directed to get legal reports on investigations. That is how the system works.” the Director General stated. “If a complaint is lodged against a powerful person with a high profile, his each and every asset has to be investigated.

This is different from investigating into assets of an ordinary government servant.” Wickremesinghe said. “I have the power under the Bribery Commission Act, to go and collect documents and ask questions from the government officials. Those people don’t have to go to court and waste their time. A lot of people have the fear that they have to go to courts and waste valuable time to get information. So people don’t want to volunteer by providing information. She said that the Bribery Commission under Section 5, can collect information on its own and conduct investigations.

“If there is information against someone, the Bribery Commission can be contacted on 0767011954 or email dgbribery@gmail.com” she added.