Former Motor Traffic Commissioner among three remanded over illegal vehicle registration scandal

Wednesday, 2 July 2025 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday ordered the remand of three suspects, including former Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe in connection with an alleged illegal vehicle registration racket.

The suspects will remain in remand custody till 8 July, pending further investigations.

The arrests, carried out by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), relate to allegations that the suspects facilitated the illegal registration of a Jeep without the mandatory clearance from Sri Lanka Customs.

They were produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga who granted the prosecution’s request to remand the suspects given the ongoing nature of investigations and the severity of the alleged offences.

During the hearing, CIABOC officials revealed that a total of 177 vehicles are suspected to have been illegally imported and registered through similar fraudulent means, bypassing established legal procedures.

The suspects face charges under the Anti-Corruption Act for their alleged involvement in circumventing regulatory checks designed to protect revenue and public safety.

The CIABOC officials confirmed that investigations are continuing with the possibility of further arrests as evidence is granted.

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