Police today said a special unit had been established under the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to nab people who swindled people and abusing property posing off as VIP’s in the government.

Police Headquarters said a least 15 such suspects were arrested this year for using the name of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.

Some of them had deceived people by promising them jobs in ports, airports and Highways Ministry.

A 31-year-old person in Nelumdeniya was arrested by the SIU for sending a forged document to the State Timber Corporation Chairman using the signature, letter head and official seal of President Rajapaksa, to obtain a job for a security officer.

Police also found such forged documents in his possession at the time of his arrest. He had earlier attempted to obtain a job as a security officer at the Department of National Museums by committing a similar offence.

A printer, scanner and letter heads were also recovered during a raid at his home in the Othnapitiya area in Nelumdeniya. (Supun Dias)