CID grills Sakvithi

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has begun questioning A. Chandana Veerakumara alias Sakvithi Ranasinghe and his wife Anuradini whether they had stashed the ill-gotten money of the depositors in a foreign country while they were abroad for almost two years, Police Media Spokesman Superintendent of Police Prishantha Jayakody told the Sunday Observer .

The Spokesman said that the CID would obtain a detention order from the courts to question the suspects at length to investigate the 2,900 complaints of depositors who lost their money by investing in Sakvithi House, a financial institution launched by him. His name will go into the criminal records as the man who masterminded Sri Lanka’s largest single cash fraud. Sakvithi on his return to Sri Lanka, six months ago, posed off as a Tamil named Ranjan and engaged in small business.

The local police and Interpol launched a manhunt for the fugitive from justice after he decamped but he went into hiding for nearly two years in an undisclosed area in Mumbai.

He claimed that he was born to teach English but later defrauded depositors who had faith in his much publicised financial institutions. He employed eminent persons to positions in the company to lure depositors and paid extraordinary interest initially.

But when depositors attempted to withdraw their money he was unable to pay their deposits and decamped to India.

When the police arrested him along with his wife J. K. Anuradini at Koraketiya Road, Ambagahahandiya in the Nawagamuwa area, he had Rs. 150,000 in his possession, police said.

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Depositors: Contact CID

The Police yesterday requested depositors who have been defrauded by Sakvithi Ranasinghe to lodge their complaints, if they have not done so to-date.

The public who wish to furnish information to the Police regarding the suspect, may contact the CID through the special telephone line: 011-2422176 or at the CID office. All depositors who have been defaulted by Sakvithi and not lodged their complaints earlier, should do so immediately.

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