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| Sunday, 17 April 2005 |
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Palm - oil racket by Jayantha Sri Nissanka A group of Customs officers have allegedly taken Rs. 17 million in bribes to release a full shipload of 2690 metric tonnes of palm oil consignment for an undervalued price. The Department of Customs was inquiring as to why these officers have valued about Rs. 100 million worth of palm oil consignment for a price of Rs. 75 million. The company had shown an undervalued price of US$ 290 per metric ton. But the usual palm oil market price was fluctuating in Malaysian market between US$ 325 to US$ 350. When contacted, Director General of Customs Sarath Jayatilleke told the Sunday Observer that an investigation was proceeding to ascertain the truth. When asked whether he was aware that these officers have taken Rs.17 million from the importing company to release the consignment, he said that he was not sure of the amount of the bribe accepted by the officers but admitted that the consignment had been released by the officers with ulterior motives. Jayatilleke too said that palm oil prices in the market fluctuates between US$ 325 to US$ 350. He admitted that certainly some racket had gone on to release this consignment. The Ministry of Finance too received the complaint about releasing the palm oil consignment for an undervalued price. "Once the investigation is over we will take severe disciplinary action against these officers", Director-General Jayatilleke warned. |
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