Ransom money - suspects grilled

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

The second suspect who fled the scene when Colombo Crime Division (CCD) sleuths arrested the main suspect who came to collect the ransom money at Narahenpita was arrested at his home in Ja-Ela last Thursday, police sources told the Sunday Observer.

The conspiracy to extort Rs. 7 lakhs from a businessman in Kohuwela by threatening to kill him and his family was hatched inside the prisons by an underworld boss serving a jail sentence. He had instructed the two suspects who were in the remand prison to threaten the wealthy businessman and extort Rs. 7 lakhs. The two suspects after being enlarged on bail carried out the extortion.The matter came to light following a complaint lodged at the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) by the businessman on January 4. Following the complaint, a trap was laid to arrest the suspect.

The businessman was instructed by the suspect to bring along the cash to a spot opposite a restaurant at Narahenpita where he could collect it.

Accordingly CCD sleuths handed over a bag containing fake notes to the businessman and waited for the suspect. The suspect who arrived in a three wheeler to collect the cash was arrested by the sleuths ending another extortion racket.

The suspects are being grilled by the CCD to unearth more information regarding the plot.