Seven arrested over Gampola ATM robbery

February 15, 2023 at 10:22 AM

Seven individuals have been arrested for their involvement in the robbery of an ATM machine from a private bank in the Gampola area in January.

The Police stated that the suspects were arrested from the Gampola and Galaha areas yesterday. 

They further stated that a pistol that had been stolen from the residence of MP Ali Sabry Raheem during the public protests last year had been recovered from the possession of the suspects.

Earlier, the Police had arrested two suspects who were involved in the ATM robbery.

Four masked individuals had stolen the ATM machine with nearly Rs. 8 million in cash from a private bank in Gampola at around 12.40 am on 25th January 2023.

Police investigations had revealed that the group had arrived in a van and had tied up the security officer at the bank after which they had stolen the ATM machine. 

It was later revealed that the van used for the robbery had been found abandoned in Peradeniya along with its driver with his hands tied four hours after the robbery.

Police investigations found that the group had hired the van and had abandoned the driver during which time they had carried out the robbery.

Following the robbery, they had picked up the driver and abandoned him along with the vehicle in Peradeniya. 

However, following the initial arrest of two suspects, the Police have arrested seven more suspects said to have been involved in the robbery. (NewsWire)