Two close relatives of a Cabinet Minister were remanded for their involvement in an human cargo smuggling racket in which they allegedly attempted to send persons to Australia illegally in fishing trawlers.
They were remanded until December 16 by the Chief Matara Magsitrate, M.K.A.Peiris.
One of the suspects were identified as Praneep Padmatillake and the other was his brother- relatives of Postal Minister Mahinda Wijesekara who is still recovering after being injured in a bomb blast in August.
Along with the two suspects 108 would be asylum seekers arrested on their way to Australia in a fishing trawler, off the southern coast were also remanded.
A total of 146 persons have been arrested in this connection.
The Minister’s relatives are said to have obtained Rs. 250,000 each from the would be asylum seekers.
ST
They were remanded until December 16 by the Chief Matara Magsitrate, M.K.A.Peiris.
One of the suspects were identified as Praneep Padmatillake and the other was his brother- relatives of Postal Minister Mahinda Wijesekara who is still recovering after being injured in a bomb blast in August.
Along with the two suspects 108 would be asylum seekers arrested on their way to Australia in a fishing trawler, off the southern coast were also remanded.
A total of 146 persons have been arrested in this connection.
The Minister’s relatives are said to have obtained Rs. 250,000 each from the would be asylum seekers.
ST
