WhatsApp Trail Leads to Arrest of Top Cop in Bribery Probe

COLOMBO (News 1st); Senior Superintendent of Police Satheesh Ranjan Hiyare Gamage, who was arrested on charges of bribery and money laundering, has been remanded until August 19.

This order was issued following his appearance before Colombo Additional Magistrate Pavithra Sanjeewani Pathirana.

Senior Superintendent of Police Satheesh Ranjan Hiyare Gamage, who was taken into custody by officials from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), was presented before the Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court.

According to the Commission, during his tenure overseeing the Galle and Embilipitiya police divisions, the suspect had accepted bribes from individuals seeking police services, including organized criminals and other offenders.

It was further revealed that the senior officer had also received bribes from illegal massage parlors, and that over a period of eight months, he had accumulated more than Rs. 14 million.

“Your Honor, during an investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department, a prominent drug trafficker named Dulaj Tharanga was taken into custody and his statement was recorded.At that time, his WhatsApp account was examined, and three messages were found. These messages contained details related to bank accounts belonging to an individual named Anura Nanayakkara. As a result, Anura Nanayakkara was summoned to the CID for questioning. During the inquiry, he stated that the bank accounts in question were not his, but instead belonged to the suspect currently in custody, who is associated with a financial fraud scheme.This is how, Your Honor, the details of this fraudulent activity came to light. Accordingly, the suspect was arrested at his official place of duty,” said Thusitha Jayanehtni, the Assistant Director of Legal Affairs of CIABOC. 

Assistant Director of Legal Affairs Thusitha Jayanehtni, appearing on behalf of the Bribery Commission, stated in court that further revelations have emerged indicating that several high-profile drug traffickers have deposited funds into the suspicious bank accounts under investigation.

“Your Honor, the suspect’s security officer has deposited funds into the suspicious bank accounts on more than 100 occasions. Additionally, the suspect’s driver has made over 50 deposits into the same accounts, totaling more than Rs. 1.4 million. Furthermore, a high-profile drug trafficker currently residing overseas has also made deposits on three separate occasions.Another well-known drug trafficker, identified as Amila Paranawithana, has also transferred funds into these accounts,” said Thusitha Jayanehtni, the Assistant Director of Legal Affairs of CIABOC. 

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) informed the court that the suspect had attempted to exert influence over witnesses. 

Therefore, the Commission requested that the suspect be remanded until the conclusion of the investigation.

Appearing on behalf of the suspect, the defense attorney requested that bail be granted under appropriate conditions.

“Your Honor, according to the Bribery Commission’s investigating officers, the individual named Anura Nanayakkara provided a sworn statement to the Commission on August 5, 2025. However, this investigation was initiated in 2024. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that if bail is applicable, it should be granted to all suspects under similar circumstances.”

After considering the submissions from both parties, Colombo Additional Magistrate Pavithra Sanjeewani Pathirana rejected the bail request.

“Regardless of the suspect’s rank, the investigation is still ongoing, and there is a possibility of witness interference. Therefore, I order that the suspect be remanded until August 19.”