The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has decided to file legal action to freeze properties belonging to seven persons, including politicians, public officials, and military officers.

Accordingly, steps have been taken to prevent these suspects from using their properties, bank accounts, and insurance policies.

CIABOC sources said investigators were probing these seven persons on how they acquired such a large number of assets that they would not be able to acquire on their normal salaries.

Investigations conducted thus far have revealed that claims made by some of the suspects that they had come by such enormous wealth through their families and close relatives were entirely false, the sources said.

It is learnt that many politicians have expressed reluctance to come before the CIABOC to provide statements to aid the Commission’s investigations.

In a separate development, the CIABOC is due to file indictments against two former ministers of the previous government for not being able to explain how they acquired certain assets.

The Sunday Times understands that the CIABOC is also investigating a former minister’s driver who had allegedly bought a luxury house and land in Cinnamon Gardens. Meanwhile, the Colombo High Court this week extended by three months the order freezing 16 bank accounts and five insurance policies belonging to former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and several members of his family. The order was issued taking into consideration evidence presented to the court by the CIABOC. Investigations are also underway on a large number of properties the former minister had allegedly acquired under the names of his closest associates.

(Sunday Times)

(This story, originally published by Sunday Times has not been edited by SLM staff)