Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali yesterday (9) directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to immediately arrest and produce in court any additional suspects linked to the alleged fraud involving Rs. 27.66 million. The case pertains to the use of photographs of luxury vehicles imported from abroad and held at customs without clearance.
The directive followed submissions by Attorney-at-Law Hariska Samaranayake, who represented the accused. During the proceedings, Samaranayake alleged that the bodyguard of a former president’s daughter was implicated in the case. The lawyer further claimed that the CID had not taken action against the bodyguard due to his high-profile connections.
The Magistrate issued the order while hearing a case filed in 2023 against a Sri Lanka Transport Board employee from Welimada, who stands accused of defrauding Rs. 27.66 million by presenting images of eight luxury vehicles at customs.
The accused, identified as Gunasirilal, appeared in court on bail. Attorney Hariska Samaranayake, representing him, stated that his client had become entangled in the fraud through a friend.
The lawyer emphasized that the primary suspect should be the bodyguard of the former president’s daughter and questioned why no action had been taken against him despite credible evidence of his involvement in the scheme.
