A senior customs official has told the media that they had refused a request by Senasinghe to clear the copper, detained due to a Rs. 100 million customs duty fraud.

Sun International and Asia Metal, owned by the same persons, had obtained temporary customs licenses to import 8 mm copper coil from Dubai, make 3 mm wires out of them and export to India.

Customs investigated a complaint the two companies had sold 18 container-loads of the copper to a local electricity wire manufacturer.

Acting immediately, customs seized two containers about to be sold to the manufacturer.

Senasinghe appeared in the case when he was an MP, and withdrew after he became a deputy minister.

However, he rejects the accusation.