Vehicle trader arrested over illegal import of Land Cruiser

5 February 2025 02:45 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 14 Bookmark

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Colombo, Feb 05 (Daily Mirror) - A vehicle trading businessman has been arrested by Bribery Commission officers for illegally importing a Land Cruiser jeep and registering it with the Motor Transport Department.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is investigating allegations of bribery or corruption related to vehicles registered with the Department of Motor Transport without clearance from Sri Lankan Customs.

The businessman was arrested in Moronthuduwa on charges of illegally importing the luxury jeep into Sri Lanka and registering it unlawfully with the Motor Transport Department.

The suspect was remanded till February 7 after being produced before the Panadura Magistrate's Court. He has been ordered to be produced before the Chief Magistrate of Colombo on February 7.

Comments - 14

Ylg Wednesday, 05 February 2025 03:04 PM

I don't get it. How could you import it illegally? You cannot bypass customs unless the custom officials are bribed. You need to arrest the guy or guys in the customs who got money to let him bring it in. It's a huge land cruiser. You can't throw it over the wall

1 68

R Navaratnam Wednesday, 05 February 2025 07:26 PM

I am with you. Unbelievable!! Anyway the the matter is now in courts; so the accused have an opportunity to defend himself.

1 4

Judge Thursday, 06 February 2025 01:19 AM

Also where is the corrupt officer in the motor traffic department who registered this illegally imported vehicle? What investigation is being done on that?

0 2

Onlooker Wednesday, 05 February 2025 03:18 PM

How can one register a vehicle unlawfully with the Motor Transport Department unless there was connivance from within the MTD.

1 50

Yohan Wednesday, 05 February 2025 03:54 PM

It is not possible to import without the help from custom officers. Investigate and arrest the custom officers responsible for the release of this vehicle. If the government wants to find crooks, check all custom officers accounts and property in pocession including relations and very close friends.

1 32

CLEAN OUT CORRUPTION FROM CUSTOMS AIR, SEA AND CUSTOMS DEPOTS WHERE GOOD ARE INSPECTED AND RELEASED AROUND THE COUNTRY. Wednesday, 05 February 2025 03:55 PM

These illegal vehicles are not imported as a whole, usually the trend used to be the vehicle is cut up into part and or sections and imported as spare parts and then put together obviously in a premises that has all the welding equipment etc, One or more in Customs have obviously been aware and cleared while on duty, an investigation must be help to gold those responsible and punish them in some shape or form. we cannot have corrupt public servants to continue in service if we are to wipe corruption out from politics and public depts.

2 11

Roshanaly Wednesday, 05 February 2025 04:06 PM

How about arresting the Custom Officer for releasing the vehicle and the MTD officer for registering the vehicle.

1 18

roobarbie Wednesday, 05 February 2025 04:08 PM

It is obviously an inside job to release this vehicle illegally. So, why there is no news about the custom officer rogue/s involved in this heist. Director General of the Customs and Excise, and the Director of operations at the relevant port/s must be hauled in front of the courts to account for their failings, if not for corruption within their patch.

0 15

Dr. Dee est Wednesday, 05 February 2025 04:28 PM

This is a very very old vehicle. How can one import such old vehicles? Assembled from scrap pieces, can be!

2 10

Insider Wednesday, 05 February 2025 05:04 PM

Customs Officers, RMV officers and intermediaries are complicit in this fraud. How many other vehicles have slipped through the net ? I also wonder whether any politico or a bureaucrat is involved in this !!!!!

0 2

Ram Wednesday, 05 February 2025 07:55 PM

To my understanding there are many luxury vehicles brought and registered without proper documents or many such vehicles with one number. All the officers from custom DMT and police are supportive with politicians background.

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kondaya77 Thursday, 06 February 2025 01:44 AM

Doesn't these men have names?

0 0

Nimal Fonseka Thursday, 06 February 2025 09:41 AM

All customs department officers need to be investigated for their wealth as a matter of urgency. Their own assets plus relatives and friends and see how they got the money and whether proper taxes have been paid. I am sure NPP will be able to stop this massive corruption. Keep army personnel inside customs premises for security and have CCTV all over the place. They will try to create problems so the Government must have an alternative plan because all crooks (99 percent) of customs will get together. Investigate , sack and punish all who have broken the law including very long prison sentences so that we can make this an honest country once more. Even get Singaporean citizens to work in customs at high salaries as they are honest.

0 2

අපි බබාලා Thursday, 06 February 2025 09:58 AM

300 odd unchecked containers.... Can you please come out and say what you were hiding inside?

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