Police Move to Prevent Unlawful Vehicle Seizures by Repossession Agents, Says Leasing Association

The Leasing and Loan Instalment Payers’ Association has expressed its appreciation to the Police and the Inspector General of Police for taking steps to ensure that vehicles cannot be unlawfully seized by repossession agents.

Speaking at a media briefing, Dr. Asanka Ruwan Pothupitiya, Chairman of the Leasing and Loan Instalment Payers’ Association, said that some repossession agents had been allegedly involved in forcibly taking vehicles with the knowledge of certain police station officers.

He said the association had made a request to the Inspector General of Police regarding the matter and expressed his appreciation to Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya for taking action following that request.

According to Dr. Pothupitiya, the Police Media Spokesperson had clarified that vehicles cannot be seized arbitrarily.

He further stated that the Police should not assist repossession agents in such vehicle seizures and that complaints made by repossession agents should not be accepted by the Police in relation to such actions.

He said that if a financial institution wishes to recover a vehicle, it must make a complaint to the Police and obtain a B-report, while the Police cannot simply take a vehicle from its owner and hand it over to the institution.

He further claimed that if the vehicle owner objects to the seizure, the vehicle cannot be taken by force and that the lessor must seek legal remedies through the District Court.

He said that, beginning tomorrow, the association would send a letter containing the relevant circular to all police stations by registered post at its own expense.

He also warned that if police officers were to intimidate vehicle owners and assist in taking their vehicles, legal action would be taken against the relevant Officers-in-Charge (OICs).