Customs say fine imposed on Ali Sabri Raheem was the maximum possible

The official said the total value of the confiscated contraband was taken into account in deciding the fine

By Sandun A. Jayasekera  

Complicating further the controversy surrounding the attempt to smuggle in Rs. 80 million worth of gold, jewellery and cell phones by Muslim National Congress parliamentarian Ali Sabri Raheem, a senior official of the Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) stated to Daily Mirror that the Rs. 7.5 million fine imposed on him was the maximum possible under the circumstances.  However, the opposition members in Parliament led by main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) protested saying that the penalty was meagre and disproportionate to the value of the contraband.  

State Minister of Finance, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya admitted in Parliament that Rs. 7.5 million was the maximum possible fine imposed, notwithstanding the fact that a fine of three fold of the value of the contraband could be imposed under the SLC Act of 1962 on the smuggler.  

Senior Director, SLC, Amith Udayapala at the BIA, dismissing the claim by Ali Sabri that he was unfairly fined and taken in by the officers of the SLC at the BIA, told Daily Mirror yesterday morning that he was duly arrested within the perimeter of the VIP lounge of the BIA when undeclared gold, jewellery and 91 cell phones valued at Rs. 80 million were detected in his baggage and appropriately confiscated under the Custom Law.  
Responding to Daily Mirror, Mr. Udayapala said the total value of the confiscated contraband was taken into account in deciding the fine.  
“This fine was the biggest in 2023 imposed on smugglers. Secondly he paid the full amount of the fine promptly and from then the duty of the SLC was over. The SLC released him soon after he settled the fine in full,” Mr. Udayapala added.