The Gampaha Additional Magistrate yesterday (3) imposed a fine on a businessman arrested for illegally possessing and selling a stock of diesel and ordered that the seized fuel be confiscated by the State.

Additional Magistrate Dhammika Uduwevidana issued the order after considering the facts presented before court.

Police said the Malwathuhiripitiya Police had received information that an individual was taking advantage of the prevailing fuel shortage in the country by filling diesel and petrol into cans and selling them at higher prices.

Following a raid carried out based on the tip-off, the suspect was arrested while selling 1,000 litres of diesel and while in possession of a further 412 litres.

Appearing for the suspect, President’s Counsel Sumith Senanayake told court that his client was a businessman engaged in the vegetable transport sector.

He stated that the diesel stock had been stored at the suspect’s residence for use in vehicles, including lorries used to transport vegetables from Dambulla, and denied that the fuel had been sold at inflated prices.

However, after considering the submissions made, the Additional Magistrate imposed a fine of Rs. 1,000 on the suspect and ordered that the entire quantity of diesel seized during the raid be confiscated by the State.