The Secretary to President Maithripala Sirisena had officially informed All Ceylon Customs Service Union (ACCSU) that he had received the latter’s written complaint of a fraud, ACCSU’s chief secretary, J. A. Gunathilake told The Island yesterday.
The ACCSU has, in its letter dated Jan. 07 to President by the ACCSU, sought an appointment with the President to discuss a colossal loss the Treasury has incurred due to fraudulent release of 150 Toyota Prado TRJ vehicles to racketeers, referred to as importers by the Finance Minister and Customs Director General.
The Customs union has said that the letter sent to the President by the Customs Director General on the instruction of Finance Minister and media releases sent by the former in that regard to media organisations when the problem arose a few moons back, had misled the public and the president.
“Under the guise of permits, the racketeers had imported luxury vehicles. The country has incurred a loss of Rs. 3,000 according to auditors. The Finance Minister and Customs Director General have not taken any of these matters into consideration. Almost all out of 212 vehicles in the custody of Customs have been released so far.
“We urge the president to convene an meeting with all the parties concerned so that we can explain the real situation and expose the racketeers.
He said his union had tried to lodge a complaint with the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), but in vain.
By Madura Ranwala
The Island