The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) has commenced investigations into the massive fraud in the sale of rice, Bombay onions and sprats worth over Rs 10,000 billion by Sathosa.
The fraud is reported to exceed the infamous Value Added Tax fraud.
Secretary of the Commission Lacille De Silva informed that under the pretence of providing Bombay onion farmers with relief, certain retailers and sellers of Bombay onions, based in Pettah, would be sent to the areas where the crops were grown and significant amounts of Bombay onions would be purchased.
These Bombay onions would in turn be bought by Sathosa at Rs 60 a kilo, he added.
Investigations into two other massive frauds have been completed and steps have been taken in this regard to proceed with legal action, he explained.
In these financial/monetary fraud cases, we find that top officials were filling their coffers instead providing relief to the people, he remarked.
Upon initial revelations into the aforementioned fraud coming to light, when measures had been taken by the PRECIFAC to remove five responsible male officers and one female officer from the place, one officer had immediately upon removal, wormed his way into a powerful government minister's ministry with the minister's protection, it has been learned.
It has also been learned that following the conclusion of investigations at an official staff grade level, several politicians who were at the helm at the time of the said fraud would also be brought before the Commission for questioning.
