Suspended Customs officer arrested over Rs. 4 million palm oil fraud

Colombo, March 23 (Daily Mirror) - An interdicted officer of the Sri Lanka Customs was arrested today by officials from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). 

He was arrested following  an investigation conducted into a fraudulent scheme involving the illegal sale of confiscated palm oil deemed unfit for human consumption.

The investigation, conducted by the Central Anti-Corruption Unit of Sri Lanka Customs, revealed that five containers of palm oil had been slated for destruction under Section 109 of the Customs Ordinance after Food and Drug Inspectors ruled the contents unsafe. 

However, instead of destroying the stock, the officer allegedly transported the containers to a private location and sold the contents of one container for an estimated value of Rs. 4 million.

To cover up the illegal sale, the suspect reportedly submitted falsified documents claiming that all five containers had been successfully destroyed. He allegedly maintained possession of the relevant files to facilitate personal gain or to provide an undue advantage to another party, thereby committing the offence of corruption.

The suspect, a resident of the Siddamulla area in Piliyandala, is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.