Extorting money from bars in guise of Excise Chief – Probe launched

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The Department of Excise launched a special probe  yesterday following complaints received from several liquor shops that a  person who claimed him to be the Excise Chief had asked for money, the  Daily Mirror learns.   

Complaints from several bars and wine stores had been  lodged with the Excise Department of Sri Lanka, saying a man claiming to  be the Commissioner General of Excise had asked to transfer money to an  account of a private bank.   

The matter had been brought to the knowledge of the Excise  Commissioner General Udaya Kumara Perera and a special communiqué was  immediately sent to all licensed liquor-selling premises not to fall  prey to this scam.   

When contacted, the Excise Chief told the Daily Mirror that  the scam had been instigated to disrepute his name and he had lodged a  complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).   

He said that they are yet to learn the identity of the  imposter and the fraudster had reportedly asked for Rs.300,000 to  100,000 from the liquor shop owners.