CID tells Magistrate: Nine more involved in VAT scam

Sarath Malalasekera and Razeena Razick

COLOMBO: The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) probing the massive VAT racket at the Inland Revenue Department yesterday told Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Namal Balalle that they are looking for nine more leading businessmen who are alleged to have been involved in the huge rip-off.

The seven suspects including a Senior Officer attached to the Inland Revenue Department remanded earlier in connection with the racket were yesterday further remanded till February 21.

The suspects are Gnanasiri Soysa Jayatilleke, Senior officer attached to the Inland Revenue Department, Colombo businessman Sinnaiah Subramanaiam, Mohamed Hussain, Mohamed Milshan, W. Ambepitiya of the Inland revenue Department and lading businessman Ashrof Hadjir.

The suspects were not produced before court yesterday for security reasons.

The CID commenced investigations on a complaint by the Inland Revenue Department based on a report submitted to the Inland Revenue Department by the Auditor-General in connection with the criminal misappropriation of Rs.357,72,868 accruing from VAT.

The CID told court that they have perused the forged documents forwarded to the Inland Revenue Department to release the VAT funds from the Department. The investigations also revealed that the senior officer of the Inland Revenue Department had authorised the VAT funds to be released to the businessmen without perusing the relevant documents.

The money had been obtained from the Inland Revenue Department on several forged national identity cards. Twenty NICs have been submitted to the Inland Revenue Department but 19 of them were forged, the investigators said.

President’s Counsel M.L.M. Ameen, President’s Counsel Mohan Peiris, Kalinga Indatissa with K.V. Thavarasa, M. Biswa, Shiraz Noordeen and Prasanna Weerasekera appeared for the suspects.