Srilanka Police

Straga · December 28, 2011

Guys tonight me and my friends were going home in a tuk. We had 5 people in the auto and they stopped us at a checkpoint infront of aria**** on duplication road for that. Then as we stopped they made us all get down and checked our pockets. Unfortunately one of my friends had a cig packet in his pocket and since he was under eighteen the cops started a major scene there. They tried to take him to the police station and all. In the end we had to pay 1500 to get out of there...

Whats your take on this guys? I mean how can they stop us and then just check our pockets randomly like that? wtf!

Pericles · December 28, 2011

More to the point, why are you hanging out with an idiot who thinks he should be smoking while underage?

NPP · December 28, 2011

and u had to join the forum just for that?

Sylvi · December 28, 2011

Guys tonight me and my friends were going home in a tuk. We had 5 people in the auto and they stopped us at a checkpoint infront of aria**** on duplication road for that. Then as we stopped they made us all get down and checked our pockets. Unfortunately one of my friends had a cig packet in his pocket and since he was under eighteen the cops started a major scene there. They tried to take him to the police station and all. In the end we had to pay 1500 to get out of there...

Whats your take on this guys? I mean how can they stop us and then just check our pockets randomly like that? wtf!

'Straga',

Moderator point out you have no reason to go with a underage person who smoke. As for NPP you joined the forum just to complain about your episode.

What I get out of your post is that you was stopped by police and checked.They carry out random checks to find out any contraband like Prohibited drugs.

You did not get the policemen identification numbers if so you can complain this matter to DIG Colombo for accepting a bribe of Rupees 1500.00.

Still you can complain for requesting money as a bribe for having a packet of cigarets inside the pocket and demanding money to you'll to let go.

Go to DIG office, they have number of officers for this bribery complains, definitely will entertain your statement. Act fast before you forget Policemen faces.

If you are brave and want to stop corruption in the police department go forward make a complain today itself without delay.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

vishkid · December 29, 2011

Despite the strange situ of the OP joinin AL just to complain about this one incident (mighty suspicious indeed!), a local gossip website reports that a couple on a bimmer were stopped late night on 23rd at Narahenpita ad-hoc check point and ... basically abused in terms of their privacy and property. The guy has in the end complained to a DIG and the policemen were apprehended.

So if the OP feels hard-done-by (unlikely), he should complain to the top brass!

Straga · December 29, 2011

Yes i did join just to complain about this, but ive been viewing the threads here for some time and i have noticed a lot of threads complaining about this sorta behaviour...

Anyway guys the packet was EMPTY, there was nothing in it. but my point is how can the cops just stop us and check out pockets for no reason at all? Sorry if i seem like im ranting..

NPP · December 29, 2011

anyway i have not heard of such a thing yet. only know that selling cig to under 18s is prohibited.

was this a police only check point?

Straga · December 29, 2011

It was barely a checkpoint, just two buggers standing there.. One young fellow and another slightly older guy.. Later on some other guy came and the tuk guy told us to bribe and fellows and leave otherwise wed be in deep shit, so we did...

Crosswind · December 29, 2011

Looks like you've been taken for more than one ride! I bet the threewheeler guy got his share too

Straga · December 29, 2011

Yep thats what we are thinking now too lol. cant think straight in a situation like that also, my legs were shaking couldn't even stand straight..

CARBON B4 · December 29, 2011

How did you manage to pack 5 people in to a three wheeler in the first place ?

Anyway Police can check if they feel something is suspicious. I have read of many articles where even mobile phones has been checked for porn.

Holding on to a pack of smokes or liquor is not a offence as per the NATA ( National authority on tobacco & alcohol ) act, but selling to a guy below 21 years is. There is no way the police can charge you for that, but since they know that you guys would not want all your parents to get to know that you smoke they have manipulated the situation in their favour.

Its a hard lesson learnt for Rs 1,500/=

pontiac_gto · December 29, 2011

if u were travel in Pajero or something like that the cops were ignoring what ever u have done for sure... this bloody cops always trying to threat to 3wheelers and bikers...

Straga · December 29, 2011

How did you manage to pack 5 people in to a three wheeler in the first place ?

Anyway Police can check if they feel something is suspicious. I have read of many articles where even mobile phones has been checked for porn.

Holding on to a pack of smokes or liquor is not a offence as per the NATA ( National authority on tobacco & alcohol ) act, but selling to a guy below 21 years is. There is no way the police can charge you for that, but since they know that you guys would not want all your parents to get to know that you smoke they have manipulated the situation in their favour.

Its a hard lesson learnt for Rs 1,500/=

I know man, but atleast im wiser now. Next time im gonna give it to the cops if something like this happens. Its stuff like this that really makes us loose all respect for this countries police force..

Watchman · December 29, 2011

I know man, but atleast im wiser now. Next time im gonna give it to the cops if something like this happens. Its stuff like this that really makes us loose all respect for this countries police force..

or how about you just stop underaged smoking or hanging out with people who do.

Straga · December 29, 2011

Straga · December 29, 2011

if u were travel in Pajero or something like that the cops were ignoring what ever u have done for sure... this bloody cops always trying to threat to 3wheelers and bikers...

Yeah man probably...

heavyD · December 29, 2011

You stuff five people in an threewheeler but they bust you for an empty cig packet?

ShintaroX · December 30, 2011

Stop and search powers exist for police. In the UK they must have probable cause to legally search you so something you said/did/smelt like etc. may have given them some probable cause. If they searched you without that then it was probably illegal. When you bribed them, you then did something illegal. Best course of action in situations like that is to refuse to let them search you without reason or tell them to do it at the station with your lawyer present (or your parents if you are a minor), such is a completely legal request. Right now, there is nothing you can do - probably your bribe will lead to some fine/jail time, I dunno. But people like you who bribe cops/officials to get out of sticky situations certainly are partly to blame for the perpetuation of corruption in developing countries.

Ripper · December 30, 2011

Stop and search powers exist for police. In the UK they must have probable cause to legally search you so something you said/did/smelt like etc. may have given them some probable cause. If they searched you without that then it was probably illegal. When you bribed them, you then did something illegal. Best course of action in situations like that is to refuse to let them search you without reason or tell them to do it at the station with your lawyer present (or your parents if you are a minor), such is a completely legal request. Right now, there is nothing you can do - probably your bribe will lead to some fine/jail time, I dunno. But people like you who bribe cops/officials to get out of sticky situations certainly are partly to blame for the perpetuation of corruption in developing countries.

i can tell you from experience that our idiotic egotistical cops do not require "probable" cause to search.

Once i was forced to open and show a gift wrapped chocolate box just because the cop wanted to use his the power of his uniform.

There was absolutely no reason for them to pull us over and search all our personal belongings. the choc box was in my wifeys handbag and weighed less than 250g's.

I protested and and they called in their "jeep" to take me to the cop shed apparently not letting them perform their duties.

I do know there are a few decent cops but you can safely say 99% of the cops you meet on the road are absolute bunch of morons.

pontiac_gto · December 30, 2011

Stop and search powers exist for police. In the UK they must have probable cause to legally search you so something you said/did/smelt like etc. may have given them some probable cause. If they searched you without that then it was probably illegal. When you bribed them, you then did something illegal. Best course of action in situations like that is to refuse to let them search you without reason or tell them to do it at the station with your lawyer present (or your parents if you are a minor), such is a completely legal request. Right now, there is nothing you can do - probably your bribe will lead to some fine/jail time, I dunno. But people like you who bribe cops/officials to get out of sticky situations certainly are partly to blame for the perpetuation of corruption in developing countries.

Bribe is illegal... but if they didn't bribe these cops, most probably they have to get a one day leave for court, call a lawyer bugger and pay him Rs1000, and finally pay rs3500 or 5000 for fine. if the government has more accurate system for this kind of situations. then people don't need to bribe these bloody cops....

pontiac_gto · December 30, 2011

99% of the cops you meet on the road are absolute bunch of morons.

+1

Straga · December 30, 2011

i can tell you from experience that our idiotic egotistical cops do not require "probable" cause to search.

Once i was forced to open and show a gift wrapped chocolate box just because the cop wanted to use his the power of his uniform.

There was absolutely no reason for them to pull us over and search all our personal belongings. the choc box was in my wifeys handbag and weighed less than 250g's.

I protested and and they called in their "jeep" to take me to the cop shed apparently not letting them perform their duties.

I do know there are a few decent cops but you can safely say 99% of the cops you meet on the road are absolute bunch of morons.

Yes thats the sorta situation we were in too. The cops basically told us "get your parents to come pick you up from jail"... At that moment we didnt think about anything besides getting out of there man..

Straga · December 30, 2011

and about few cops beign 'decent', yes infact mostly we have a friends car when we go out, but he doesnt have a license only a learners permit.. and almost all times when we get stopped even late in the night the cops let us off.. Just recently it seems like the cops are becoming assholes...

Edited December 30, 2011 by Straga

Pericles · December 30, 2011

Yes thats the sorta situation we were in too. The cops basically told us "get your parents to come pick you up from jail"... At that moment we didnt think about anything besides getting out of there man..

If you had half a brain cell, you would have realized that they can't throw YOU in jail coz someone else you were traveling with is accused of violating a law. Unless there is more to the story and you are just saying part of it to have a pity party.