Cameroonians who duped businessmen promising joint ventures further remanded

By T. Farook Thajudeen

Two Cameroonians who allegedly duped several vehicles importers with their capital money supposed to be invest on a joint venture with the Cameroonians were further remanded till 16 January by the Nugegoda Magistrate pending the identification parade of a suspect while to peruse the authenticity of the visas and passports of the suspects.

When the matter was taken up for inquiry before Nugagoda Magistrate Ajith M. Masinghe’s chamber, the two suspects – Camgain Kawdan Harei and Ibom Siman Peere Cristiyon – were produced from prison before the Magistrate.

Senior Counsel Ian Fernando appearing with Eranga Wijegunawardena and Shamali Fernando watched the interest of the three aggrieved vehicle importers. Counsel Neumann Henry with Mellie Fernando appeared for the suspect Cameroonians.

The suspects’ counsel submitted that the two suspects had come to Sri Lanka to find opportunities to start joint ventures with Sri Lanka. However, when the suspects found that the expenses involved in such ventures in Sri Lanka were high, they had decided to go to India. Meanwhile, they were arrested for the alleged scam. The Counsel said the offence was a bailable one and moved to grant bail for the first suspect.

Counsel Ian Fernando objecting for bail for the suspect said that if the suspects had come to Sri Lanka for business, they should have business visas. The suspects cannot do business in Sri Lanka with a tourist visa. The counsel further said if the suspects had tourist visas in their passports, they had violated the Immigration Act and committed an additional offence.

Fernando pleaded to order the Police to verify the visas of the suspects to confirm whether they were business or tourist visas.

The Magistrate remanded the suspects till 16 January and ordered IP Ranabahu of Maharagama Police to file a report on the visas of the suspects.

The second suspect who was to stand for an identification parade was not produced in court yesterday since the prosecution was not able to find persons with similar features with the second suspect to be produced during the identification parade.

The suspects were alleged to have duped several prospective vehicles importers for over three million that was to be invested by the victims for joint ventures with the suspect.

The modus operandi of the suspects was if the victims consented to the joint venture, the suspect requested the businessmen to come with the total capital that was to be invested in the business. The suspects on the pretext of checking the cash had stealthily attempted to introduce bundled papers for the cash.

In this manner the suspect had changed three million worth of cash for bundled papers. When the victims found that the cash had been changed for bundled papers, the suspects had tried to get away with the cash and the first suspect was arrested by the businessmen after a chase.

The other suspect was arrested by the Police and he is to be produced for an identification parade.