South Asia's Largest VAT Fraudster Flees Country

December 08, 2016

Former Deputy Commissioner of Inland Revenue Department Agampodi Gnanasiri Jayatillake de Zoysa who was sentenced to 102 years rigorous imprisonment has flee the country.

He was fined Rs. 12 billion. It was ordered if the convict failed to pay the fine within one month all his property will be confiscated in order to recover the Rs. 12 billion fine.

The officials have failed to recover the fine. Further, de Zoysa has sold half of his properties before fleeing the country. 

After the accused pleaded guilty to the 34 charges against him and was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment for each of them. 

The CID commenced investigations on a complaint by the Inland Revenue Department based on a report submitted to the Inland Revenue Department by the Auditor-General in connection with a criminal misappropriation of Rs.357 million accruing from VAT.

The investigations also revealed that the senior officer of the Inland Revenue Department had authorised this amount to be released to the businessman without perusing the relevant documents.

It was reported that the money had been obtained from the Inland Revenue Department on several forged National Identity Cards.

The sentences are to run concurrently. He had already served eight years in remand custody since the case came to light.