Customs officials and informants had been paid more than Rs. 24,220 million as cash rewards between 2012 and 2023, said the National Audit Office in a report.
These payments had been made by Customs chiefs without approval by the finance minister.
Also, nearly Rs. 2,000 million had been paid as overtime in 2021 and 2023, while only around Rs. 200 million had been credited by the fund to the state.
Internal rules had been changed in such a manner that allows cash rewards to officials who do not contribute to investigations.
Normal official duties have too, been considered for the payment of cash rewards.
(lankadeepa.lk)
