FCID probes 26 complaints
The Sri Lanka Police Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID)
has prioritised investigating 26 complaints it had received, as of
yesterday. Another four cases are now under court inquiry. Fifty-two
cases have been listed for investigations, according to Police Spokesman
ASP Ruwan Gunasekara.
The FCID has recorded statements from the relevant officials in 13
cases. Preliminary investigations are now under way on the remaining 13.
Another 26 cases are yet to be investigated. Police sources said the
cases would be prioritised, according to the gravity of the crime.
The complaints made against the alleged corruption in using the Divi
Neguma Development Department funds made a turning point in the
investigations when the former Economic Development Minister Basil
Rajapaksa was remanded till May 5 following nearly 10 hours of
questioning. The investigations began following the complaint to the
FCID on February 25 and 28 by a person who had first-hand information on
the deals.
Police Spokesman ASP Gunasekara said that four separate cases had
been investigated. One investigation was on the complaint number FCID/02A/15
made on February 28 on the compensation and gratuity payments for
Rs.1.73 million when the Divi Neguma project was converted into a
Department. Second on the allegations on the house renovation project
under the Divi Neguma - Rs.2.99 million – numbered FCID/02B/15.
The third was on allegations on printing the New Year auspicious time
calendars at a cost of Rs.29.4 million as part of the recent
Presidential election propaganda. The fourth was on spending Rs.63.7
million on the Divi Neguma national convention during the election
period. |