BIA Duty Free Shop Owner Forced to pay tax and fine on behalf of the Deputy      

A deputy based on Gampaha District while returning from a foreign trip wanted to buy a TV set costing US$ 990 from a duty free shop. But his duty free entitlement is only US $180. However, he managed to buy it and found his way home through VIP’s exit counter. Unfortunately TV set had some defect and did not work. Deputy directly contacted the duty free shop owner and arranged to replace it with a new TV set. His aides got the replacement and came through BIA normal passenger exit counter and confronted with customs officers, who imposed a tax of RS.60, 000 and a fine of 20,000 on the shop that sold the TV set. Aides did not have enough money to pay the tax. Poor duty free shop owner had to pay the tax and fine both totalling to Rs.80, 000. This same deputy is famous for shouting as a crusader against corruption in Parliament and outside.