New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said that it has filed prosecution complaint under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against three accused Sarith PS, Swapna Prabha Suresh and Sandeep Nair before the Ernakulam PMLA Court in connection with smuggling of gold through diplomatic channel.
In the Prosecution Complaint, equivalent to charge sheet, the central probe agency prayed the PMLA court to punish the the three accused in accordance with the law for the offence of money laundering.
ED probe began under the provisions of PMLA on the basis of National Investigation Agency’s FIR filed before the Special Court fort NIA cases at Kochi against these above said accused under sections 16, 17 & 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The Customs Commissionerate (Preventive), Cochin had registered a case relating to the seizure of 30 KG of gold worth Rs 14.82 crore at Trivandrum International Airport on July 5 this year, camouflaged as diplomatic baggage to UAE Consulate which has immunity from checking at airport as per Vienna convention.
The above said consignment was to be received by the accused Sarith PS who had worked in UAE Consulate earlier as Public Relations Officer in complicity with Swapna Prabha Suresh, Sandeep Nair and others.
“During the course of investigation under PMLA it is revealed that the above accused persons have indulged in criminal activities and huge amount of proceeds of crime have been generated and the accused persons are possessing, concealing, and using such proceeds of crime and accordingly Prosecution Complaint under PMLA has been filed against them for punishing the accused in accordance with the law for the offence of Money Laundering”, the ED said.
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