MP regrets, promises to reveal all

By Norman Palihawadana

Puttalam District Ali Sabri Raheem yesterday (24) told The Island that he would disclose the circumstances leading to the Revenue Task Force of Customs taking him into custody at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on Tuesday. The disclosure would be made within the next few days.

The MP said so after the Customs freed him having fined him Rs 7.4 mn in addition to confiscating the gold and smartphones, worth Rs 74 mn and Rs 4.2 mn, respectively, he attempted to smuggle into the country.

Claiming that people experienced such situations during bad times, MP Raheem said that he deeply regretted the incident.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that the Customs had informed him of the impending arrest of the MP and he given his consent.

Speaker Abeywardena said that MP Raheem could be removed from Parliament only by the party he was elected from at the last general election. Raheem contested the August 2020 General Election, on the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) ticket.