PAC wants VAT scam suspects charge-sheeted

10 February 2012 09:32 pm - 4 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The parliament Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed the Inland Revenue Department officials to charge sheet those involved in the multi-billon VAT scam reported earlier, informed sources said yesterday.

The PAC summoned Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundare, officials of the Internal Revenue Department, and the CID this week and inquired about measures taken against those involved in what the then Auditor General S.C. Mayadunne revealed to have been a four-billion-rupee scam.

At the meeting, it was revealed that none of the officials responsible for the largest ever financial scam had been charge-sheeted despite the lapse of ten years after it was first revealed.

Inland Revenue Department officials had reportedly said some of those responsible had retired, and that action could not be taken against them.

The PAC said there should not be any such barrier for taking action against the wrong doers. PAC queried as to why the Presidential Commission appointed to look into this fraud was yet to submit its report and directed the CID to expedite the prosecution of the culprits.

The CID informed the PAC that twelve of those involved in this massive scam were in remand custody.

The VAT fraud took place between 2002 and 2004. The PAC also investigated this scandal in 2007, and at that time Minister Rauff Hakeem was the PAC Chairman. (Kelum Bandara)

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Comments - 4

Concerned Saturday, 11 February 2012 12:29 AM

If a person is retired and cannot be brought to justice, what happened to Gen. Sarath Fonseka? Double standards??

Nodrog Saturday, 11 February 2012 01:07 AM

The IRD which is so quick to punish companies that default but not when their own are guilty.

Fair N Square Saturday, 11 February 2012 03:37 AM

What the hell? why cant they be prosecuted? just coz they retired... So in other words all public officials who are involved in corruption can go on early retirement when they are netted? Absoolutely ridiculous is the law helping the criminals here I wonder... and what audacity has these officials of the dept... to state that they cannot be prosecuted.. Wonder IF they were "Palmed"

DUWI Saturday, 11 February 2012 03:44 AM

This is unbelievable. Not chargesheeted after ten years for the biggest fraud in the country. The high officials in the Treasury, Inland Revenue Department and the Attorney General's Department should be asked to resign and competent persons appointed.

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PAC wants VAT scam suspects charge-sheeted

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