Police investigations reveal that the illegally assembled vehicle belonging to former Minister Johnston Fernando is suspected to have been reported stolen in England.
Addressing the media, Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that as per the INTERPOL website, the vehicle had been manufactured in Germany and sold to a buyer in England.
He further said that the Police had found links to this vehicle and a similar luxury car, reported missing in England in 2021, based on the details provided on the INTERPOL website.
Investigations have found a link between the two vehicles based on the Chassis and engine numbers, which are displayed on the INTERPOL website for verification, he said.
Stating that there is confirmation regarding links between the Chassis and engine numbers of both vehicles, DIG Thalduwa said investigations are underway based on these findings.
The Police Spokesman further said that the Government Analysts Department report also confirmed that the luxury car had been illegally assembled.
Former Minister Johnston Fernando was arrested and remanded yesterday for his use of the illegally assembled BMW, which was found parked at a hotel in Colombo recently.
Initial investigations found that the vehicle had been dropped off by Johnston Fernando’s driver at the hotel prior to the Presidential Election. Upon inspection CID officials had found several documents belonging to Johnston Fernando inside the BMW but had not found any documents related to the registration of the vehicle.
Cross-examinations on the garage number of the vehicle with the Motor Traffic Department found that the number plate had been registered under the name of a private firm in Nawala. Interrogations of the owner of the company revealed that he had registered the vehicle number plate in March this year via the Motor Traffic Department, but it had been stolen while the vehicle was parked at a radio station belonging to the company.
Inspections of the BMW’s Chassis number WBA5E52010G115194 by Sri Lanka Customs found that a vehicle with the said Chassis had not been legally brought down to Sri Lanka. (Newswire)