Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage issued an order to the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, temporarily prohibiting the sale or transfer of 112 luxury vehicles imported into Sri Lanka, resulting in a loss of over Rs. 7,000 million in tax revenue for the Government.
The Court issued this order following a request from the Intelligence Unit of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), which launched an investigation into these 112 luxury vehicles allegedly brought into Sri Lanka without proper clearance from Sri Lanka Customs and with false information entered into the computer data system of the Motor Traffic Department.
Inspector M.D.C.N. Gunathilaka, the OIC of CIABOC’s Intelligence Unit, informed the Court that the investigation into this incident began on April 18, 2023, based on information received from a private informant.
The Bribery Commission also informed the Court that it has obtained preliminary reports from the Investigation Commissioner of the Motor Traffic Department regarding this incident.
Accordingly, the Bribery Commission presented to the Court that corruption under Section 111 of the Anti-Corruption Act has been committed.
Assistant Director (Legal) Anusha Sambandaperuma, representing the Bribery Commission in Court, stated that these vehicles include luxury models such as the Land Cruiser, Montero, and Toyota cab, with some vehicles valued at around Rs. 70 million each in Sri Lanka. They were smuggled into the country in containers under the guise of importing other goods between 2015 and 2022.
The Bribery Commission informed the Court that orders will be sought from the Court to transfer these vehicles, currently in civilian custody, to the Sri Lanka Customs for investigation under Sections 136 and 137 of the Customs Ordinance.
The Bribery Commission requested the Court to issue an order under Section 124 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, prohibiting the transfer or misplacement of these vehicles during the investigation period.
Furthermore, the Bribery Commission stated that investigations will proceed into this incident, and suspects will be arrested and brought before the Court.
On December 8, 2023, the Bribery Commission informed the Court that orders were obtained concerning 51 vehicles, and an investigation was launched into 200 luxury vehicles imported into Sri Lanka, resulting in a loss of Rs. 12,000 million in tax revenue for the Government.
