A Chinese national has been arrested over the theft of $9,900 (around Rs. 3.1 million) from a fellow passenger aboard a flight from Abu Dhabi to Colombo, police said.The suspect was arrested on Thursday (30) at a casino in Colombo Fort by officers of the Airport Police Katunayake.
Police said the money was stolen from the handbag of a Russian doctor while he was asleep during the flight, which arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) around 3.00 a.m.
The victim lodged a complaint with airport police at around 4.00 a.m. after discovering the cash was missing.
Investigations using airport CCTV footage identified the suspect, who had exited the airport and left in a hired taxi.
Officers traced the vehicle through the taxi service counter and located the suspect at a casino in Colombo Fort, where he was taken into custody.
Police said the suspect had already spent $4,000 at the casino, while $5,900 was recovered from his possession.
The 49-year-old suspect is due to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court on Friday (01). (Newswire)