Investigating Corruption; Fairness & Justice Must Be Ensured
R.M.B. Senanayake
The JVP deserves the gratitude of the people for taking up matters withregard to the corruption indulged in by the Ministers of the previous regime before the Bribery & Corruption Commission. But it is unlikely that the Bribery Commission can go into the allegations since they lack the necessary technical staff to investigate such allegations. Several of the allegations refer to economic crimes.
The Petroleum Corporation is accused of importing inferior petrol. They are accused of entering into hedging transactions which caused enormous losses which had to be settled in foreign currency. There are allegations of corruption in the construction of the Expressways at excessive costs. The EPF is alleged to have bought shares on the Stock Market at excessive prices which were not worth. All these require a sound knowledge of economics and the ability to understand markets and not only spot markets but also forward markets and options. The policemen or lawyers from the Attorney Generals Department do not understand or have a perspective on such situations and matters.
In the UK they set up a Serious Fraud office which deals with economic crimes and the office uses the services of professional persons including economists, accountants and bankers who analyze market data and advise the prosecutors. Can we do without such professionals to handle these corruption allegations? There is also the mitigating fact that the original decisions cannot be judged from hindsight. They have to be judged in the circumstances given the knowledge of facts and circumstances then available. They cannot be judged from hindsight. It is necessary also to consider the prevailing risks and uncertainties which prevailed when the original decision was taken.