Alleged ethanol importer’s address just bare land

Suspect’s lawyer denies client’s responsibility for containers’ contents as they were opened in his absence

The mystery behind the illegal import of a stock of ethanol deepened after Customs found the address of the importer was only a bare land.

These findings were placed before Colombo Additional Magistrate Sadun Vithana on Wednesday.

Importer, Ranga Dharshana Samarakkody of Axis Industries (Pvt) Ltd at 369/42, Sepalika Uyana, Watareka, Padukka, claimed that the two containers imported were for the manufacture of Turpentine.

A senior Customs official said that a probe was under way to ascertain whether the claimant importer had done so on behalf of a third party.

The consignment of 350 drums had arrived from Vietnam with a declaration that they contained Sulphate Turpentine Oil and Rosin Resin Acid to be used in the manufacture of Turpentine, and was valued at Rs 9.5 million.

On arrival of the consignment on March 11, the consignee’s wharf representative submitted documents and paid the taxes to facilitate its clearance. But two days later Customs informed that the cargo needed to be inspected, and ordered the two containers taken to the Grey Line 2 yard for inspection. However, on the way, the two containers were intercepted by Excise officials and taken into custody, along with the wharf representatives.

Subsequently, Customs officials re-took custody of the two containers and sent it to the Grey Line 2 yard. Customs officials later informed the importer to call over in order to open the consignment. However, the consignee informed of his inability to call over, as his father had passed away on the same day.

Customs Superintendent Vathsala Nanayakkara had visited the importers’ house and found that his father had actually passed away.

Customs and Excise Dept officials had jointly opened the containers on March 16, in the absence of the importer.

The container was re-opened on Tuesday (19) in the presence of the importer, but not before the importer’s lawyers had been allowed to conduct an inspection.

Attorney-at-Law Tivanka Ekaratne objected to the containers having been opened without the presence of his client or the shipper, wharf clerk or shipping agent, and hence, his client was denying responsibility for the goods inside the container.

However, Director General of Excise Wasantha Hapuarachchi told the Sunday times that they carried out the raid following information about the illegal consignment.

“We got to know that a large quantity of Ethanol was being brought into the country. As we had not validated permission for a large consignment of Ethanol, we immediately took action,” he said.

Add. Magistrate Sandun Vithana ordered prison officials to present the suspect to Customs officials for questioning on March 27.

The case was put off for April 3.