Visa fraud: four remanded till July 17

Sandasen Marasinghe

COLOMBO: Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardana yesterday ordered the remand of four including the Chilaw Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman for allegedly forwarding fraudulent documents to the Australian Embassy for Visas.

They were remanded until July 17. According to the CID they have forwarded fraudulent documents for visas for certain persons impersonating as Pradeshiya Sabha Members of the Puttlam District and citing that they were to participate in a conference on 'garbage recycling'.

The Judge ordered the remand of Chilaw Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Janaka Pradeep de Silva, Gopal Thayagarajah of Pandirippu, Kalmune who impersonate as a member of Wanathavilluwa Pradeshiya Sabha, Gopal Pille Praviraj of Negombo who impersonated as a member of Uduppuwa Pradeshiya Sabha and Sothirajah Krishnapillei of Kalanchikudi who impersonated as a member of Udappuwa Pradeshiya Sabha.

The CID submitted the first accused had organised the crime of forwarding the fraudulent documents to obtain visas from the Australian Embassy.

The CID said that letters have been prepared on Pradeshiya Sabha letter heads stating that they were attending a conference in Australia on garbage recycling. The CID said two suspects were to be taken into custody in this connection and objected the granting bail to those four accused on the ground that it would hinder the investigations.