The Deputy Controller (Administration) of the Department of Immigration and Emigration has been arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the issuance of a fraudulent passport, police said.The suspect was taken into custody by the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau today (06).According to investigators, the official is accused of accepting a passport application without carrying out the required verification procedures. The application reportedly contained the personal details of another individual, while the photograph used was that of an organized crime gang member who had been deported to Sri Lanka from Chennai, India.Police alleged that the suspect had facilitated the issuance of the passport despite the discrepancies in the application.The arrested official is a 51-year-old resident of Matara.

The investigation was launched following a notice issued to  the Inspector General of Police by the Magistrate in connection with a case currently being heard before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.The Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau is conducting further investigations into the incident.