Duped, deceived and defrauded

52 complaints of financial frauds under investigation:

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

FCID building

Who took the money? is a question frequently asked these days by many. Each day different personalities become suspects and get questioned by the investigators. The list of financial frauds coming under scrutiny is getting larger.

Never in the history Sri Lanka has seen such a drama created by a list of fraudulent financial transactions making the newly established Financial Criminal Investigations Division of the Police the busiest office in the country. The new establishment in Kollupitiya, better known as the

FCID has become the new ‘fourth floor’ taking criminals to task.

According to the Police the FCID is investigating 52 complaints starting from the hedging deal that came to the FCID on February 28 complained by the Voice Against Corruption Movement.

The list flows through a stream of alleged corruptions in the Divi Neguma Development Department funds, People's Leasing vehicle and financial misuse, commissions taken by top officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board, MiG27 deal, Lanka Hospital case, misuse of finances by the Central Cultural Fund officials, Sports Ministry financial corruptions, CSN to ETF to Pushpa Rajapaksa foundation and Siriliya Saviya investigations, from the Stock Market to Seychelles bank accounts and to the investigations yet to come on the misappropriate use of money of the Kurunegala Sathosa. The list does not include all the complaints received.

The FCID has submitted the 'B' report to relevant Magistrate Courts on investigations of 26 complaints, said Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara.

Complaints

The complaints made against the alleged corruptions 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 a nearly 10 hour questioning session. The investigations started following the complaint to the FCID on February 25 and 28 by an individual who had first-hand information on the ‘deals'.

Police Spokesman ASP Gunasekara said that four separate cases are being investigated. One investigation is underway for 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 to a Department. Second on the allegations on house renovation project under the

Divi Neguma that involved a massive Rs.2.99 million – numbered FCID/02B/15 and the investigations have taken statements from eight people. The third on allegations of printing New year auspicious time calenders with Presidential election propaganda at a cost of Rs.29.4 million where the money had been used without the approval of the Treasury. Fourth on spending Rs.63.7 million on the Divi Neguma national convention during the election period.

State funds

Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Development Nihal Jayathilake, Former Divi Neguma Department Director General R.R.K. Ranawaka and Additional Director General of the Department of Divi Neguma Development Bandula Thilakasiri were questioned over these misappropriation of funds.

FCID has started investigations on a complaint that states a unlawful transfer of State funds to a bank account of the Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation.

The Voice Against Corruption Movement, Western Provincial Council member Wasantha Samarasinghe has made a complaint to FCID on the hedging transactions against former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Former Finance Ministry Secretary P.B Jayasundara and former Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Chairman Asantha de Mel.

The complainant said that the Government has lost approximately US dollars 200 million by setting up a hedging oil transaction system and will be losing another US dollars 400 million or more in the future. On the order of the Colombo Fort Magistrate Asantha de Mel’s passport was impounded while FCID has interrogated Ajith Nivard Cabraal for hours regarding the deal.

Former Uva Province Chief Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa was questioned over two luxury buses purchased by the Ministry of External Affairs on a leasing facility, being used for personal trips – the two super luxury buses were imported to Sri Lanka to provide transport facilities to the VIPs who participated in the 2013 CHOGM summit and each bus was worth nearly Rs.18 million. This is one of the six investigations handled by the FCID on allegations on the People's Leasing. The investigation number FCID/03F/15 is carried out to find the truth on the actions by the former

CEO of the People Leasing to provide soft loans to his kith and kin and apparently some loans were written off.

The allegations on the controversial MiG Aircraft purchase numbered FCID/05/15 has questioned ex- Air Force commanders Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera and Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonethilake following a complaint made by an expert on the field on March 7.

Investigations are ongoing on corruption in connection with a bank account of the ‘Siriliya Saviya’ Foundation, a project that was conducted under the name of former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa. The account had been with the People's Bank Suduwella branch.

FCID has filed a report in the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Courts concerning massive financial frauds at Lanka Hospitals.

As news went on record to state last week investigation was launched following a complaint lodged by cancer specialist Dr. Niyomal Perera against the former Director Board of Lanka Hospitals which includes ex-Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Two weeks before former Chief Executive Officer of CSN TV channel, Nishantha Ranatunga was summoned before the FCID to provide a statement over the alleged tax concessions provided to the sports TV channel during the previous government. He had been under questioning for over one and a half hours.

Misappropriation

Allegedly officials have misappropriately used money from water supply schemes as well – and FCID investigations are under way for two projects in Ampara and Colombo. Investigations are going on alleged monetary frauds at the Stock market, depositing money in Sceychelles island during the previous government, allegations on the Eppawala Phosphate Limited.

Latest would be probing in to Lanka Sathosa on loss of goods worth nearly Rs. 6 million. The Sathosa (earlier known as CWE) outlets affected were from Kurunegala, Vehera and Yanthampalawa.

The complaint states that the corruptions took place during the last Northwestern Provincial Council elections held in 2013. Among the suspects in this alleged fraud are the former UPFA Government's Trade Minister, Johnston Fernando and his son Johan Fernando who is a Northwestern Provincial Councillor. With developments yet to come a new drama will take place this week.