Two ex-customs officials to be charged for illegally releasing confiscated gold

The Attorney General (AG)'s Department has issued instructions to charge two former Customs officials under four counts for illegally releasing eight kilos of confiscated gold.

Former Customs Director General Jagath Premalal Wijeweera, and retired additional customs Director General Tharaka Senaviratne have been accused of illegally releasing eight kilos of gold confiscated by the Customs Department during their term in office.

Accordingly, the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) has been instructed, in writing, to file charges under the Penal Code and the Public Property Act against the suspects for causing breach of trust.

The AG said that Mr. Wijeweera had unlawfully released the gold to the Navy for the construction of a statue in the Sandahiru Maha Seya – an enshrinement built in memory of war heroes.

Mr. Senaviratne, the other accused, had abetted the offence.

AG Dappula de Livera pointed out that the Customs Director General is not vested with the powers to release any item confiscated by the Customs Department.

He noted that only the Minister of Finance has been granted powers to release such confiscated property to their owners under certain conditions.

Accordingly, Mr. De Livera instructed the FCID to obtain statements from the suspects before producing them to court, and to submit a report on their statements to the AG's Department.

(Reporting by Damith Wickramasekara)