The illegally assembled luxury vehicle of former Minister Johnston Fernando has been identified as a BMW and had been seized by law enforcement authorities while parked at a prominent hotel in Colombo.
Investigations have revealed that the Criminal Investigations Department had launched a probe after receiving a tip-off that the vehicle was found parked at the hotel car park in a suspicious manner.
Hotel authorities have informed that the black colour BMW with number plate WP C 24-0430 had been parked by an individual identifying as Gamini Abeyratne, a day before the Presidential Election.
During interrogations, Gamini Abeyratne had confirmed that the vehicle belonged to former minister Johnston Fernando and had been dropped off by his driver, claiming that the vehicle would be collected later.
The vehicle’s key had been obtained from Fernando through Priscilla Samanthi, a Food and Beverages Manager at the hotel.
Presenting facts to the court, the CID officials said upon being inspected they 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.
Based on a request by the CID officials, officials from the Government Analysts Department inspected the vehicle after which it was revealed that the BMW had been illegally assembled.
Presenting facts to the court, CID officials informed that charges have been filed against former minister Johnston Fernando for illegally importing vehicles by evading taxes, using an unregistered vehicle, using a stolen number plate, and using a vehicle with a stolen number plate.
Considering the presented facts and a request made by the CID officials, the Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday imposed an overseas travel ban on Johnston Fernando. (Newswire)