A cemetery worker has been arrested in Moratuwa over an attempt to dig up a grave and steal jewellery from a corpse.
The incident was reported from the Rawathawatta area, where three individuals, including the cemetery caretaker, had allegedly dug up a grave.
Police said the suspect in custody had confessed that he, along with two others, carried out the act to obtain jewellery believed to be on the body.
The grave belonged to a 73-year-old woman who had died on March 15. The incident came to light on Sunday (22) when her daughter visited the cemetery to pay her respects and found three men digging the grave.
The suspects fled the scene after being confronted, but one was later arrested following a complaint lodged with Moratuwa Police.
Investigations revealed that the group had consumed alcohol before carrying out the act. Police said the suspects had mistakenly believed the woman had been buried earlier and targeted the grave accordingly.
The daughter has informed police that the jewellery on the body was imitation.
Police are investigating whether the suspects were attempting to steal jewellery or the coffin, and whether similar incidents have occurred previously.
The arrested suspect is to be produced before the Moratuwa Magistrate’s Court, while investigations are ongoing to apprehend the two remaining suspects. (NewsWire)