A Sri Lankan who had been hiding in the Maldives after defrauding gem businessmen of nearly two billion rupees has been deported to Sri Lanka.
The Colombo Crime Division received a complaint against the suspect, alleging that he defrauded Rs. 240 million while in the country. Additionally, the Financial and Commercial Crime Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department received complaints totaling Rs. 60 million, Rs. 360 million, and Rs. 400 million in money frauds against him.
According to police, when authorities were prepared to arrest the suspect, he had already fled to the Maldives with his wife and father.
Upon instructions from Acting Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, the Criminal Investigation Department issued red warrants for the suspect through Interpol.
Unaware of the warrants, the suspect visited the Maldives Immigration Office to extend his tourist visa, where he was subsequently arrested. Upon notification, a team of officers from the CID recently traveled to the Maldives to bring the suspect back to Sri Lanka.
Subsequently, the suspect was repatriated to Sri Lanka via Katunayake International Airport.
During the suspect's interrogation, it was disclosed that he had engaged in gem trading and had deceived gem businessmen by persuading them to invest in his ventures.
The suspect, a resident of the Dehiwala area, was produced in the Mt Lavinia Magistrate's Court and has been remanded until February 19th.
