Varuni Bogahawatta, who was remanded, has been suspended from work.

The Police Department has taken steps to suspend the Officer-in-Charge of the Administration Division of Kotawila Police Station, who is currently remanded, after information revealed that she had her car lease payments made by a suspect involved in a massive financial fraud exceeding one billion rupees.

The officer suspended from duty is Woman Chief Inspector Varuni Bogahawatta. The relevant suspension order was issued by Deputy Inspector General of Police Chamika Wickramasinghe, who is in charge of Matara and Hambantota Districts.

The origin of this suspicious transaction came to light recently when a 'Honda Vezel' type motor car in the possession of the said police officer was taken into custody by officers of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Investigations revealed that the manner in which the police inspector earned money to purchase the said motor car and pay its lease installments was highly suspicious. An even more serious matter is that investigators have revealed that the lease installments for the said motor car were paid by an individual suspected to be involved in a large-scale financial fraud exceeding one billion rupees that occurred at the Matara Cooperative Society.

Due to her failure to confirm how she received money to purchase this motor car and settle its lease installments, or a legitimate source of income related to it, Chief Inspector Varuni Bogahawatta was recently remanded.