VAT scam suspects further remanded

Sarath Malalasekera

Five suspects in the VAT scam at the Inland Revenue Department were further remanded till October 24 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Namal Bandara Balalle yesterday.

Two suspects in the alleged VAT fraud case were granted bail earlier by the Colombo High Court.

The third suspect in the case was yesterday discharged from the proceeding of the VAT scam and remanded under the alleged GST fraud till October 24.

The Criminal Investigation Department yesterday told court that they have forwarded a dossier of the investigations into the VAT scam to the Attorney General for his advise.

The CID told court that they are making arrangements to obtain the assistance of Interpol in connection with the suspects who had left the country and are now living abroad.

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

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 a criminal misappropriation of over Rs.35,772,868 the money accruing from VAT.

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