An Additional Secretary of Public Administration was arrested for committing fraud to provide a government vehicle at a low price.

An Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration was arrested yesterday (19) on charges of defrauding a doctor of over two crore rupees (20 million LKR) by promising to provide a government vehicle at a low price through an auction. She was arrested by the Financial and Commercial Crimes Investigation Division attached to the Central Criminal Investigation Department after recording a statement from the suspect.

Investigations have confirmed that at the time the financial fraud occurred, the suspect was serving as the Additional Secretary for Aviation, attached to the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation. She had obtained over Rs. 22,700,000 from the aggrieved doctor, claiming that she could provide a vehicle at a very low price during a government vehicle auction. However, it has been revealed that despite the doctor repeatedly requesting the return of the money due to the non-delivery of the promised vehicle, the suspect has failed to return either the vehicle or the relevant amount.

These investigations commenced following a complaint lodged by the aggrieved doctor with the Central Criminal Investigation Department, and the arrested suspect is scheduled to be produced before the court. These investigations are being conducted under the direction of Inspector Rajitha Warnapriya, OIC of the Financial and Commercial Crimes Investigation Division, acting on the instructions of Mr. Kamal Ariyawansa, Director of the Central Criminal Investigation Department and Senior Superintendent of Police. Additionally, Sub-Inspector Shehara Mendis, Sergeant (72180) Wasantha, and Woman Police Constable (12320) Deepika are also involved in the investigations related to this incident.