The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested a youth in connection with the recent garlic scam, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said.
The 25-year-old youth was apprehended for aiding and abetting the pilferage of a garlic consignment weighing up to 54,000 kg by using forged documents.
He was produced before the Welisara Magistrate’s Court yesterday, October 23.
He was identified as the son of the businessman from Bambalapitiya who was arrested on suspicion of purchasing the two container loads of garlic valued at over Rs. 11 million which was unlawfully taken from Sathosa. The 55-year-old businessman was arrested earlier this month.
On September 14, two containers carrying 54,000 kilograms of garlic belonging to Lanka Sathosa were arrested at Kerawalapitiya after they were allegedly pilfered from the Port.
Four officials of Lanka Sathosa, the country’s largest state-owned retail chain, were interdicted following the incident while Sathosa’s Deputy General Manager of Finance was arrested two days later.
On October 11, officers of the CID arrested Lanka Sathosa’s Assistant General Manager of Purchasing, Senior Manager, Supplies, Manager, Supplies and the Manager of the Welisara Wholesale Store, after recording their statements with regard to the scan. Investigations are being carried out under the supervision of CID’s director.