Two former top Customs officials have been arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) for illegally releasing confiscated gold during their term in office.
The officials are former Director General Jagath Premalal Wijeweera, and retired additional customs Director General Tharaka Senaviratne.
The Attorney General (AG)'s Department, recently instructed the FCID, 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.
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