Ex-Sri Lankan minister arrested over alleged financial fraud

Colombo April 16 (IANS) Sri Lanka s former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was arrested on Monday over an alleged financial fraud amounting to $340 000 committed during the tenure of the previous government.

Aluthgamage arrived at the Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) in Colombo to record a statement over the alleged deal which involved importing a consignment of carrom boards while he was in office in 2014 reports Xinhua news agency.

He was arrested after being questioned for hours by investigators.

Sri Lanka s unity government led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have vowed to curb corruption and arrest high-profile officials who were involved in financial fraud during the previous government.

Several cases against ministers in the former government have been lodged with the FCID and the island s Bribery and Corruption Commission.

Former ministers named in corruption scandals have denied any wrongdoing and blamed the government for carrying out a witch-hunt.

--IANS
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