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| Sunday, 21 September 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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'Jackpot' king arrested by JAYAMPATHY JAYASINGHE The main suspect in the horrifying killing of Father Abba Costa referred to as 'Jackpot King' was arrested at Bambalapitiya around 7.30 p.m., last Wednesday, by a team of detectives from the Colombo Crime Division (CCD). The suspect who had been absconding for more than two years was apprehended when he came to collect some money owed to him from a friend. The suspect is alleged to have fled to the United Kingdom soon after the murder of Father Abba Costa on 11 May 1991. Having returned last August, he had gone into hiding in a bungalow of an estate superintendent at Rakwana. It is learnt that the Estate superintendent who provided accommodation to the most wanted suspect had been grilled by the police last week. The suspect had been taken to the bungalow by a friend. He had informed the estate superintendent that the friend had several political foes in Colombo and therefore wanted to stay in a secluded place. Police say that three other persons including a Reserve Police Constable who had been close associates of the suspect had also been arrested. The Reserve Police Constable who was earlier attached to the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) had been passing information to the main suspect on the progress of Father Abba Costa's murder investigation. However, he was transferred to the Kelanitissa police station when senior officers suspected him of associating with the 'Jackpot King.' According to police, the suspect, a 'prosperous' businessmen was involved in the Jackpot and heroin trade in the coastal areas of Negombo and Puttalam, where he operated several Jackpots dens. He was also a henchman of a powerful politician who gave him protection during the previous government. He wielded so much political influence that even the police turned a blind eye on his nefarious activities. Although he was connected to the heroin trade, his premises were never raided by the police through fear of reprisals. The 'JacKpot King' is alleged to have contracted 'Kochi' Rohan and Nisantha to murder Father Abba Costa, as he feared the Catholic clergy in Negombo were involved in a crusade to destabilise his very lucrative business. Although Father Abba Costa did not openly carry on a crusade against heroin and Jackpot gambling, the suspect targeted the priest because he lived alone at the Thilanduwa Mission House. The killing was a signal to other priests to keep away from engaging on a protest campaign against heroin and Jackpot gambling. Father Abba Costa was brutally stabbed 27 times on 11 May in 1991. However as a result of painstaking detective work, CCD officers were able to arrest 'Kochchi' Rohan and Nisantha, two months ago. They were hiding in a house at Wennapuwa. The two men were responsible for the murder of Father Abba Costa, police said. Police said that they had been monitoring cellular phone conversations of the suspect before the arrests were made. They have already confessed to the police that they were in possession of fire arms. The police believe that the main suspect would have fled to United Kingdom with the support of a politician. The Jackpot king is being interrogated by the police under the guidance of Director, Colombo Crime Division (CCD) SSP. Sarath Lugoda. |
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