A court has ordered a full examination of every bank account linked to alleged large-scale drug trafficker Shiran Basik, who is being held under a 90-day detention order.
The order was made after investigating officers presented submissions in court, Hiru News reported, placing that hearing on Wednesday. A separate inquiry into Basik’s wealth and properties is being conducted under the supervision of the Illegal Assets Investigation Division, according to NewsFirst.
Two outlets, two agencies
The reports differ on who will carry out the review. NewsFirst said the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka will conduct it. Hiru News said the court directed the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division to inspect the accounts.
Both bodies work on financial crime but are separate institutions, and neither outlet mentioned the other. The discrepancy has not been reconciled.
Hiru also reported that Basik is being detained and questioned by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Earlier reporting on the 90-day detention order did not specify the law under which it was issued.
Background
Basik, 48, fled Sri Lanka and was in hiding in Dubai before being arrested by UAE authorities and deported. He was flown back to Colombo on August 14 and handed to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau, after which several investigations into his alleged criminal activity, financial dealings and assets were opened.
NewsFirst said questioning has produced details on five hotels he is alleged to own along Colombo’s Marine Drive — properties Basik himself described to investigators earlier this month.
Hiru placed his Dubai arrest in March, matching Ada Derana’s account. The same outlet had previously reported the arrest as 26 May, and the two versions have not been reconciled.
The financial review runs alongside a broader police operation targeting the assets of 25 organised-crime figures. None of the allegations against Basik has been tested in court.
