More details revealed about Gampola ATM machine robbery

January 26, 2023 at 11:12 AM

The Gampola Police have managed to uncover vital information about the armed gang that broke into a private bank and stole its ATM machine on Tuesday morning (25).

The Daily News reported that the group had threatened the security officer at gunpoint and tied him to a chair after which they had dismantled and stolen the ATM machine which reportedly contained nearly Rs. 08 million in cash.

The Gampola Police had found the driver of the van used for the crime tied up inside the vehicle and abandoned near Galaha junction in Peradeniya on Kandy Road hours after the robbery. 

Police investigations reveal that the robbery had taken place in close proximity to two more private banks in which their security personnel had also been on duty at the time. 

According to the Police, the suspects had hired the van through an online service for a trip from Hemmathagama, Aranayake. 

The owner of the hiring company has informed the Police that the suspects had blindfolded the driver, tied his hands, and dropped him off at a deserted place with one of their gang members. 

He added that after committing the robbery, the group picked him up from the same location and abandoned him and the vehicle at the Galaha junction at around 5 am.

The Gampola Police has also arrested the driver of the van, who is reportedly a retired airman, over contradictory statements on the incident. 

After receiving information that the driver too had been involved in the robbery, he had been arrested and has been identified as a resident of Aranayake.

The driver of the van is reported to have told the Police that the group had initially travelled to the Deltota area after which two people had gotten into the van.

He had further said that while returning from Deltota, he was dropped off from the van, blindfolded, and the van had been hijacked.

According to the driver of the van, after returning, the suspects had placed him in the van and abandoned the vehicle near the highway.

The Gampola Police is conducting further investigations into the incident.  (NewsWire)