Businessman remanded over major vehicle registration fraud involving government documents and luxury car imports

• Accused of defrauding over Rs.50Mn in unpaid taxes to govt.
• A Toyota Land Cruiser fraudulently registered as a truck
• Authorities seize documents and vehicle registration books
• Allegedly submitted fraudulent data to the Customs 

By Bhagya Silva   

A businessman who owns a vehicle sales showroom in  Wariyapola was ordered to be remanded till May 9 by the Colombo Chief  Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali for allegedly causing a loss of over Rs.50  million in unpaid taxes to the government.   

The businessman was arrested in connection with a major  fraud involving the registration of luxury vehicles imported illegally  through the customs department. He is accused of submitting fraudulent data to the department’s computer system, enabling the registration of  vehicles under false pretences.   

The businessman, Nalaka Pramoth, the owner of a well-known  vehicle enterprise in Wariyapola (Nalaka Enterprises), was remanded  after being arrested by officers from the Commission to Investigate  Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for his involvement in a  conspiracy with officials from the Hambantota Motor Traffic Department.  They are alleged to have submitted fake documents, allowing a luxury  Toyota Land Cruiser to be registered under the records of a truck,  causing a loss of over Rs. 50 million in unpaid taxes to the  government.   

During his arrest, authorities seized numerous government  documents, including vehicle registration books and records from the  Motor Traffic Department. Further investigations are underway regarding  these documents. The suspect has also been charged with assisting  officials from the Hambantota Motor Traffic Department, against whom  legal action has been taken by the Commission.   

Additionally, CIABOC officials told court that in 2002, the  suspect’s father had registered a Land Cruiser under his name, which  was later smuggled into the country in 2017 and registered under false  data in the Motor Traffic Department’s records.