The All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), led by former minister Rishad Bathiudeen has decided to revoke the party membership of MP Ali Sabry Raheem, who has been accused of being involved in the smuggling of gold and mobile phones into the country.

The Chairman of the ACMC, M.S.S. Ameer Ali stated that the decision to expel MP Ali Sabry Raheem from the party was taken following a comprehensive inquiry commenced by the Disciplinary Committee of the party.

Issuing a statement, the ACMC Chairman said the Political Authority further found that the conduct of MP Raheem, smuggling gold and mobile phones, has brought disrepute to the ACMC, is contrary to the conduct expected of a Member of Parliament representing the ACMC and amounts to a serious breach of party’s discipline.

“It should be pointed out that as per the Electoral Agreement signed between the ACMC and Muslim National Alliance (MNA) during the last General Elections, MP Raheem contested under the symbol of the MNA”, he added.

Thus, the notification of expulsion had been sent to MP Raheem as well as to the Secretary General of MNA, Mr. Naeemullah, according to the ACMC Chairman.

Furthermore, he mentioned that he hopes the Secretary General of MNA would take immediate action in this regard as promised by him.

Puttalam District MP Ali Sabri Raheem had been detained at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake along with a stock of undeclared gold and mobile phones on 23 May 2023.

The Customs officials on duty at the airport had impounded a total of 3.5kg of undeclared gold and 91 mobile phones from the possession of the parliamentarian who was returning to the island from overseas.

However, the parliamentarian was later released after paying a fine of Rs. 7.5 million.