The Colombo High Court today sentenced a Development Officer to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, suspended for 10 years, for soliciting a sexual bribe from a mother seeking aid for her child's kidney surgery.
Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige also fined the officer 20,000 rupees and ordered that his civil rights, including voting, be revoked.
The judge condemned the act as a gross abuse of public duty, stating a lenient sentence was not possible given the gravity of the offence.
In his pronouncement, Judge Patabendige emphasised the reprehensible nature of the defendant's actions.
He stated unequivocally that it was utterly unacceptable for a government official to exploit the vulnerability of a helpless woman by demanding sexual favours in exchange for fulfilling his official duties.
The judge further underscored the gravity of the offence, asserting that the severity of the crime precluded the possibility of imposing a lenient sentence.
Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige also fined the officer 20,000 rupees and ordered that his civil rights, including voting, be revoked.
The judge condemned the act as a gross abuse of public duty, stating a lenient sentence was not possible given the gravity of the offence.
In his pronouncement, Judge Patabendige emphasised the reprehensible nature of the defendant's actions.
He stated unequivocally that it was utterly unacceptable for a government official to exploit the vulnerability of a helpless woman by demanding sexual favours in exchange for fulfilling his official duties.
The judge further underscored the gravity of the offence, asserting that the severity of the crime precluded the possibility of imposing a lenient sentence.
