Bogus physician transporting moonshine escapes

by Jayampathy Jayasinghe

Police were able to unravel the mystery of the bogus physician when they fired at his vehicle and took in for questioning a suspect in connection with transporting kasippu worth three and a half lakhs of rupees last Wednesday. The driver of the vehicle revealed to police that the man who posed off as a doctor was a bootlegger.

According to Millanniya police the luxury Toyota Carina car had tinted windows and a badge of a renowned sports club in Colombo 7. The car had the appearance of a VIP motorcade which was chauffeur driven. The man who rode in the front seat posed off as an eminent physician.

OIC Millaniya Inspector Ananda Silva said according to eye-witnesses the car leaves Wennappuwa every evening and arrives at Piliyandala and in the Panadura area with a load of Unlawfully Distilled Sprits (UDS) known as Kasippu. The bogus doctor usually carried a stethoscope around his neck to deceive policemen while travelling in the luxury vehicle.

The incident took place in the Millanniya police area last Wednesday around 11.45 p.m. when the Toyota Carina vehicle plying at high speed near the Dharmachakra Foundation ignored orders to stop the vehicle.

The vehicle ran off the road and ended up in a culvert when police fired at the vehicle. In the meantime the bogus physician who was in the car escaped while the driver was taken for questioning following the discovery of moonshine (kasippu). The kasippu was concealed in several polythene bags.

OIC Millaniya, Police Inspector Annada Silva said they are looking for the bogus doctor who had gone into hiding. The police believe that the vehicle belonged to a wealthy illicit hooch dealer at Wennappuwa. A vehicle belonging to the same hooch dealer was confiscated five years by courts, he said.

OIC Ananda Silva questioned how a vehicle could pass 14 major check-points all the way from Wennappuwa and arrive at Panadura. "The security in Colombo and in the suburbs have been breached," he said.

SSP Panadura, Upendra Dharmasena is directing further investigations.