Court orders arrest over luxury vehicle import scam

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage has issued a directive to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) ordering the immediate arrest of persons responsible for the illegal importation of luxury vehicles after 2015, which resulted in a customs duty loss of over Rs. 50 billion to the Sri Lankan Government.

The court order, issued yesterday, emphasised that the CIABOC should not only seize the vehicles involved but also apprehend those who facilitated the illicit imports. This directive follows the Commission’s presentation of evidence revealing that, of the 200 luxury vehicles imported through fraudulent means, only 20 have been recovered to date.

A Mitsubishi Jeep valued at Rs. 60 million, which had been illegally imported, was among the vehicles presented in court. The owner of the jeep had previously been instructed to hand over the vehicle to the Government by 18 September but had concealed it instead. The CIABOC managed to seize the vehicle only after obtaining a court order.

Magistrate Gamage, while considering the facts, underscored the Commission’s responsibility to arrest persons who deliberately caused significant financial losses to the State. He instructed the immediate arrest of all those involved in the fraudulent activity.

The investigation, launched by the CIABOC, revealed that 200 luxury vehicles were illegally imported after 2015 but had been registered as regular vehicles brought in before 2015 by manipulating data at the Department of Motor Traffic.