Ex-Customs officials arrested for misappropriating public property

Former Customs Director General Jagath Premalal Wijeweera and former Customs Assistant Director General Tharaka Seneviratne were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) yesterday.

They were arrested in connection with the incident where they had given eight kilograms of gold confiscated by Customs to deposit inside the Sandahiru Seya, a Buddhist shrine built on a concept of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Anuradhapura.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dasanayaka ordered the Police to arrest the two officials on 20 September and produce them in court.

The police have lodged a complaint against the suspects on charges of breach of trust and misappropriation of public property. The police further stated that out of the 45.3 kilograms of gold that was seized by Customs in the North Sea, eight kilograms of gold had been handed over to deposit in the Seya that is under construction.

Both suspects are currently receiving treatment at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital and Badulla Hospital and the police are due to present their case in court. Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has denied that the gold was transferred illegally and said that due process was followed in procuring the gold for the dagabo construction.