CCD on look out for robbery suspects

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Colombo Crime Division (CCD), filing a facts report in Court in connection with the Rs. 10 million robbery that took place in the Slave Island area on 12 February, informed that it was on the look out for suspects after collecting details of telephone calls taken using 230 towers around the roads.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate had ordered four mobile phone service providers to provide details pertaining to 230 towers which were alleged to have been used the suspects.

In this case, businessman Kanapathipillai Thevanashan had made a complaint with CCD alleging that an amount of Rs. 10 million belonging to him was robbed by persons disguised as policemen.  

The businessman had told police that he went to a private bank in Slave Island to exchange foreign currency and got into his van along with his driver and money packed in a travelling bag. He said that when his van was turning towards to right side from the Nawam Mawatha, a man clad in a traffic police uniform had ordered them to stop the van. He said that at the same time, he saw a defender parked on the payment. He further said that three men who got down from defender pulled them away.

Thereafter, the businessman had been abandoned in the Kotte area. The businessman, a resident of Wellawatte area, further said that the suspects were involved in the robbery possessed pistols and assaulted him.

The CCD who is conducting investigations into the incident told Court that it had already collected some fingerprints marked on the vehicle belonging to the businessman. The CCD is conducting further investigations into the incident.