A 53-year-old woman accused of posing as a Western and Ayurvedic medical practitioner and defrauding victims of nearly Rs. 60 million has been arrested by the Horana Divisional Crime Investigation Unit.
The suspect, an unmarried woman who had previously resided in Giribawa and later in a housing complex in Horana, had allegedly operated the scheme for an extended period.
Investigations revealed that she rented luxury vehicles and displayed medical insignia on them while conducting free medical clinics in several areas to gain public trust.
The suspect had claimed to import special medicines from overseas for various illnesses. However, investigations found that the drugs provided to patients were unapproved and substandard products not authorised for use in Sri Lanka.
She had allegedly convinced victims that shipments of imported medicines had arrived at the Colombo Port and that funds were required to clear them. Promising to repay the money, she is accused of collecting nearly Rs. 60 million from various individuals over about one and a half years.
Complaints received by police indicate that the suspect had obtained money not only from members of the public in areas including Gampaha, Madurawala, Millaniya, Bandaragama, Horana and Ingiriya, but also from chief incumbent monks of several prominent temples in those areas.
Inquiries made with the Sri Lanka Medical Council and the Ayurvedic Medical Council confirmed that the woman was not registered with either institution and was fraudulently posing as a doctor, police said.
Investigators have also discovered that two fake companies had been registered under the suspect’s name. Police are now probing whether the money obtained through the alleged fraud was converted into foreign currency and transferred overseas under the guise of importing goods.
Further investigations are underway. (Newswire)