|
|
|
| Sunday, 23 April 2006 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Extortions:
Order of the day Sunday crime by Jayampathy Jayasinghe It has become so common these days to read in newspapers about black-mail, and extortion rackets being carried out by underworld gangs who have had success in extorting millions of rupees from prosperous businessmen in Colombo and elsewhere. The gangs know too well that businessmen live in mortal fear these days, due to the insecurity of what they witness in television and read in newspapers.
In fact a couple of weeks ago an extortion racket was barred in Dambulla following the arrest of several underworld men. They planned to extort Rs. 2.5 million from a businessman in Dambulla. However, their plan was foiled by the timely intervention of the police. After laying in an ambush they arrested a man who came to collect cash Rs 1 million at a pre arranged spot in Dambulla. A similar incident happened in Colombo a few months ago where underworld men who posed off as members of the LTTE, unsuccessfully tried to extort millions of rupees from a businessman jeweller at Sea Street Colombo. The men were arrested by the Colombo Crime Division. According to Police hierarchy underworld men thrive and succeed on extortion rackets due to the fear shown by businessmen. They say that the business community live in fear and usually avoid confrontation with the underworld. But they also win them over by paying them generously when a dispute arises between two parties. Some businessmen even employ underworld men to get their dirty work done by crooked means, when they find that litigation is expensive. Several cases of extortion of money from businessmen have been reported recently. The underworld men know only too well that businessmen are too frightened to complain to the police when they are at logger-heads with them. The recent attempt to extort Rs 100 lakhs from a businessman in Pettah however was different. The businessman was forced to complain to the police when the underworld demanded their pound of flesh. On receipt of a complaint of extortion from a businessman, the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) was galvanised into action last week. Detectives who waited outside his shop in Pettah arrested four men who went there to collect Rs. 10 million. The men were later produced before courts and were subsequently bailed out. The businessman who disposed one of his shops for a sum of Rs. 700 lakhs was approached by four underworld men. They stormed into his shop and demanded that a sum of Rs. 100 lakhs should be paid to a shareholder who was abroad at that time. Of the four men, two were known to the businessman well. While they remained silent, the other two strangers threatened the businessman. According to police, an underworld man known as Bala who had gone to the shop was a noted character. He had been previously questioned by the Colombo Detective Bureau (CDB) which was then housed at Gregory's Road Colombo 7. Bala had been summoned to the CDB umpteen number of times in connection with various frauds and rackets where he was involved. To cover up his guilt Bala had even lodged a complaint at police headquarters, after he was released on bail by courts, that a plot was being hatched by the CCD sleuths to assassinate him. However, he disappeared soon after being enlarged on bail. Director of the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) SSP Sarath Lugoda said he had detailed a special team to track down the suspect, as investigations have not been completed. The suspect was an unemployed man who had amassed a fortune by resorting to similar rackets, and had led an ostentatious life in Colombo 7. He travels about in a limousine and even resides in a plush bungalow at Cinnamon Gardens which he does not own. Back at the shop in Pettah, the underworld men were cajoling and threatening the businessman to issue a cheque for a sum of Rs. 100 lakhs. The businessman however pleaded with them that the amount was far too much, in excess of what he owes his partner. He implored several times to reduce the amount. Finally, the gang agreed that a sum of Rs 35 lakhs should be issued on the following day, and left the shop. In the meantime, the businessman got in touch with a senior police officer from an intelligence agency and the matter was subsequently referred to the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) for an investigation. SSP Lugoda instructed several of his detectives to lay in ambush opposite the businessmen's shop and to keep an eye on the four men who would call there on the following day. As instructed, the detectives took up positions opposite the shop and were waiting anxiously for the arrival of the gang. Around 11.a.m. the sleuths noticed four men entering the shop. The businessman however greeted them as usual on arrival. He pretended that nothing had happened. Soon he was engaged in a deep conversation with the men. In fact he used delaying tactics till the cops arrived at the scene. After some time the detectives entered the shop and took into custody the four men who had been coaxing the businessman to issue a cheque. Fortunately the underworld men were not carrying any firearms with them. Due to the timely intervention, a serious crime was prevented that day. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
Many businessmen have been abducted recently by gangs, who later demanded
millions of rupees from their kith and kin for their release. 
