The Panadura Walana Anti‑Corruption Strike Force has arrested a suspect who posed as its Station Chief to extort money from hotel and restaurant owners across several districts.

According to the Police, investigations have revealed that the suspect, a 31‑year‑old resident of Ambalangoda, contacted businessmen via WhatsApp claiming to be Station Chief Indika Weerasinghe.

The suspect had intimidated the victims and unlawfully obtained large sums of money. 

He was arrested yesterday (25) near the Galanigama expressway entrance, where police also seized 25.620 grams of heroin from his possession.

The Police confirmed that the suspect had previously been imprisoned for drug trafficking, theft, robbery, and extortion. 

Investigations reveal he targeted business owners in Ambalangoda, Gandara, Ratnapura, Horana, Panadura, Marawila, and Trincomalee.

The Sri Lanka Police has urged the public to immediately report any incidents of intimidation or unlawful money collection by individuals impersonating police officers to the nearest police station or through emergency hotlines 119 and 118. (Newswire)

The post Fake Walana Police Chief arrested for Extortion appeared first on Newswire.

One suspect, among two, has been arrested for threatening a businessman and his wife living in Thalawathugoda to extort Rs. 5 million.

According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, the couple had received death threats via phone calls locally and from Dubai, seeking the money. 

Among the two suspects involved, the Nugegoda Division Crimes Investigation Unit apprehended one suspect, who was found to be in possession of 700g of ICE narcotics.

Investigations were launched into the threats after the affected businessman had filed a complaint with the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The Nugegoda Division Crimes Investigation Unit launched a probe and also reported facts to the court in this regard. 

Following a court order, the investigating officers inspected the phone records enabling them to identify the local number and the suspect behind the calls. 

Thereafter, a suspect from Pannala had been arrested in connection to the incident. (Newswire)

The post Suspect arrested for attempting to extort Rs. 5 Mn from businessman appeared first on Newswire.

Five youths have been arrested for robbing nearly Rs. 100,000 from an individual employed as a meter reader.

The Moratumulla Police said the suspects had lured the victim to a house in Villorawatta, after which they had stripped, beaten, and robbed him.

The arrested suspects are between the ages of 17 and 20 years. One suspect had lured the victim via the online dating app ‘Grinder’ by offering a body massage.

The victim from Bandaragama had arrived at the Villorawatta house using the location shared by the suspect, after which the youth had stripped himself of his clothes and followed to do the same to the victim.

The other suspects had broken into the house a few minutes later and had beaten the victim, accusing him of sexually abusing the youth, while they had also threatened to inform the Police.

The Police said after threatening the victim, the suspects had obtained his Debit Card and PIN out of which they had withdrawn Rs. 70,000 and another Rs. 29,000 using his Credit Card.

Launching an investigation based on a complaint, the Police apprehended the suspects from the Villorawatta, Rawatawatte, and Lakshapathiya areas. 

Investigations have revealed that the suspects had robbed an Army Major and a school student, similarly on previous occasions. (NewsWire)

The post Five youths arrested over extortion racket using Grinder App appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka Police has urged the public to immediately inform their nearest Police Station in the event of receiving phone calls from strangers with the intent of extorting money. 

The appeal was made following the arrest of a suspect who had issued death threats and attempted to extort money via a phone call from a businessman on the orders of an organized criminal residing overseas.

The Police stated that the businessman had filed a complaint with the Mulleriyawa Police claiming that an unknown individual who had contacted him on his mobile phone had issued death threats and attempted to extort Rs. 2 million.

Investigations launched into the complaint led to the arrest of the 51-year-old suspect in the Delgahawatte area in Angoda, Mulleriyawa last evening.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the man had threatened and attempted to extort money from the businessman on the orders of an organized criminal living overseas.

The Police stated that several similar arrests have been made in the recent past and legal action has been initiated against such suspects. (NewsWire)

The post Public urged to inform Police of attempts to extort money appeared first on Newswire.