The Deputy Controller (Administration) of the Immigration and Emigration Department was arrested yesterday (6) by the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau over allegations of assisting in the issuance of a forged foreign passport. 

Police said the suspect was taken into custody in connection with an ongoing investigation. According to the investigators, the senior official is accused of facilitating the issuance of a passport without proper verification by accepting an application in which the photograph of a deported organised crime suspect from Chennai, India, was allegedly linked to another individual’s personal details. 

The suspect, a 51-year-old resident of Matara, was arrested following inquiries conducted by the Bureau. The investigation was launched based on instructions issued by a Magistrate in a case currently being heard before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.