Two senior ex-Customs officials remanded until Oct 8

Two former top Customs officials accused of releasing confiscated gold have been remanded until October 8, police said.

Former Director General (DG) Jagath Wijeweera, and retired additional DG Tharaka Senaviratne had been arrested at the Sri Jayawardenepura and Badulla hospitals respectively by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) yesterday (Sept 27).

Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said that the Acting Gangodawila Magistrate and Badulla Magistrate had examined the accused in their respective hospitals and had ordered them to be remanded today.

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.