The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has launched a probe into a financial racket involving the issuance of letters bearing the signature of former Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration J.J. Rathnasiri promising Government jobs.
According to The Morning, Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe was informed yesterday (20) that the fake letters had been issued to 14 persons, while a woman is said to have deposited Rs. 200,000 to two bank accounts as a result.
The court was informed that the CID had launched an investigation based on a complaint filed by Rathnasiri on the fraud which had been carried out via the website titled “The Programme to Provide Employment to the Unemployed – 2021”.
The CID revealed that Rathnasiri’s complaint notes that 14 persons had come to the Ministry for employment with fake letters bearing his signature and seal on 8 December 2021.
Further investigations have revealed that an official at the ministry has confirmed that there was a related file in the ministry, but no letter had been removed from the file after 19 March 2021. The CID said this had confirmed that the 14 letters in question are forged letters.
Informing the court that statements have been recorded from a woman who had deposited Rs. 200,000 to two separate bank accounts as a result of the scam, the CID requested the court to issue an order to the relevant bank managers to provide information pertaining to the two bank accounts. (NewsWire)