Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Ms. Subramaniam Rubini of Katugastota, Kandy District, has been harassed by police officers attached to the Katugastota Police Station on the whims of a former lover, Selvam. Police officers from Headquarters and the Katugastota Police Station demanded that she pay a sum of money owed by Selvam to a person named Sudakaran. The police officers acted without a complaint and beyond their legal powers, to fulfill the whims of Selvam.
CASE NARRATIVE:
According to the information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Ms. Subramaniam Rubini of 31 A/4, Manikkumbura Road, Katugastota in Kandy District has been harassed by the police officers attached to the Katugastota Police Station.
Rubini had an affair with a person named Selvam in 2014, who despite promises to marry her, suddenly disappeared from the area in October that same year. In December 2014, Rubini received a phone call from the Kandy Headquarters Police Station informing her to visit the police station. When she visited, police officers asked her Selvam’s whereabouts, to which she responded that she does not know.
Then the officers informed her that a person called Sudakaran had paid Selvam a sum of Rs. 300,000 for making arrangements for him to leave Sri Lanka, and Sudakaran wants his money back. Rubini responded that she has no idea of Selvam’s whereabouts, and that she cannot pay the money. She also told the police officers that she did not know about any financial transaction and that she was unaware of a person named Sudakaran.
Several days later, Rubini was summoned to the Katugastota police station for an inquiry. She was forced to sign a letter stating that she is willing to pay the entire amount owed by Selvam to Sudakaran.
In June 2015, Rubini was again called by the police. This time, Rubini went with her lawyer, Mr. Padmadakshan. The officers recorded a statement from Rubini where she again stated that she has not taken any money, and nor does she know the whereabouts of Selvam.
Rubini was called to the police station again on July 7, and threatened into paying Sudakaran’s money. Afraid, Rubini agreed to pay whenever possible; on July 12, Rubini gave Rs 5,000 to Sudakaran at the police station.
Also in June 2015, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Marapana of the crime branch started to call Rubini very often, and she had to go more than 20 times in June & July to the crime branch. She was forced to find Selvam by sending messages to her friends. Further, she was asked to come alone to the crime branch. OIC Marapana called her using his private mobile number and also asked her to come to other places for discussions. Fearing that he would do something to her or request sexual favors for other officers, Rubini did not go to other places when requested by him.
On October 25, three police officers from Katugastota Police Station came to Rubini’s house and threatened to arrest her if she does not pay the full amount at once. She was also told to come to the police station the next day. At this time, Rubini paid another Rs. 15,000. Rubini was asked to make a statement and Rubini’s sister was also called by the police officers regarding this matter.
On 24 May 2016, the police officers called her and threatened to arrest her, and on May 26 she received a letter from the police requesting her to be present on May 28 at 10 a.m. Rubini attended this inquiry with her lawyer, where following the inquiry process, the officers admitted that there is no complaint recorded and that they were acting without a complaint from Sudakaran.
Despite this, Rubini continued to be threatened by the officers, and Rubini paid another Rs. 140,000. Several days later, Rubini was informed by her lawyer that the Miscellaneous Branch OIC Mr. Somakumara of Katugastota Police has recorded a complaint from Sudakaran.
Sudakaran is a politician who has contested the local government elections for Kandy Municipal Council. He is maintaining a relationship with the police officers in the area, and has considerable influence. For this reason, police officers have acted illegally to appease Sudakaran, and extracted money from Rubini. The police officers involved must be prosecuted for their unlawful actions.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case and requesting an immediate investigation into the allegations of illegal activities by the police perpetrators, and the prosecution of those proven to be responsible under the criminal law of the country. The officers involved must also be subjected to internal investigations for the breach of the department orders as issued by the police department.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ________,
SRI LANKA: Katugastota Police illegally extort money from an innocent woman
Name of Victim: Ms. Subramaniam Rubini of No: 31 A/4, Manikkumbura Road, Katigastota in Kandy District
Alleged perpetrators: Officers attached to the Headquarters Police Station of Kandy and Police Station of Katugastota
Date of incident: December 2014
Place of incident: Kandy Police Division
According to the information I have received Ms. According Ms. Subramaniam Rubini of 31 A/4, Manikkumbura Road, Katugastota in Kandy District has been harassed by the police officers attached to the Katugastota Police Station.
Rubini had an affair with a person named Selvam in 2014, who despite promises to marry her, suddenly disappeared from the area in October that same year. In December 2014, Rubini received a phone call from the Kandy Headquarters Police Station informing her to visit the police station. When she visited, police officers asked her Selvam’s whereabouts, to which she responded that she does not know.
Then the officers informed her that a person called Sudakaran had paid Selvam a sum of Rs. 300,000 for making arrangements for him to leave Sri Lanka, and Sudakaran wants his money back. Rubini responded that she has no idea of Selvam’s whereabouts, and that she cannot pay the money. She also told the police officers that she did not know about any financial transaction and that she was unaware of a person named Sudakaran.
Several days later, Rubini was summoned to the Katugastota police station for an inquiry. She was forced to sign a letter stating that she is willing to pay the entire amount owed by Selvam to Sudakaran.
In June 2015, Rubini was again called by the police. This time, Rubini went with her lawyer, Mr. Padmadakshan. The officers recorded a statement from Rubini where she again stated that she has not taken any money, and nor does she know the whereabouts of Selvam.
Rubini was called to the police station again on July 7, and threatened into paying Sudakaran’s money. Afraid, Rubini agreed to pay whenever possible; on July 12, Rubini gave Rs 5,000 to Sudakaran at the police station.
Also in June 2015, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Marapana of the crime branch started to call Rubini very often, and she had to go more than 20 times in June & July to the crime branch. She was forced to find Selvam by sending messages to her friends. Further, she was asked to come alone to the crime branch. OIC Marapana called her using his private mobile number and also asked her to come to other places for discussions. Fearing that he would do something to her or request sexual favors for other officers, Rubini did not go to other places when requested by him.
On October 25, three police officers from Katugastota Police Station came to Rubini’s house and threatened to arrest her if she does not pay the full amount at once. She was also told to come to the police station the next day. At this time, Rubini paid another Rs. 15,000. Rubini was asked to make a statement and Rubini’s sister was also called by the police officers regarding this matter.
On 24 May 2016, the police officers called her and threatened to arrest her, and on May 26 she received a letter from the police requesting her to be present on May 28 at 10 a.m. Rubini attended this inquiry with her lawyer, where following the inquiry process, the officers admitted that there is no complaint recorded and that they were acting without a complaint from Sudakaran.
Despite this, Rubini continued to be threatened by the officers, and Rubini paid another Rs. 140,000. Several days later, Rubini was informed by her lawyer that the Miscellaneous Branch OIC Mr. Somakumara of Katugastota Police has recorded a complaint from Sudakaran.
Sudakaran is a politician who has contested the local government elections for Kandy Municipal Council. He is maintaining a relationship with the police officers in the area, and has considerable influence. For this reason, police officers have acted illegally to appease Sudakaran, and extracted money from Rubini. The police officers involved must be prosecuted for their unlawful actions.
I request the intervention of your good offices to intervene in this matter and ensure justice is served to the victim.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Pujith Jayasundara
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440 / 327877
E-mail: igp@police.lk
2. Mr. Jayantha Jayasooriya PC
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
E-mail: ag@attorneygeneral.gov.lk
3. Secretary
National Police Commission
3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers
109 Galle Road
Colombo 03
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 395310
Fax: +94 11 2 395867
E-mail: npcgen@sltnet.lk or polcom@sltnet.lk
4. Secretary
Human Rights Commission
No. 36, Kynsey Road
Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
