Child abduction drama ends up at BIA

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

A 12-year-old Korean boy who disappeared from his home at Second Lane, Nawala, Rajagiriya was traced by the Immigration and Emigration Department officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) the Police Media Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunesekera told the Sunday Observer.

The officials traced the boy being escorted by his aunt and another person at the BIA last Thursday. They were subsequently handed over to the Airport police for further investigations. Police after questioning them learnt the boy's mother had given her consent to a Sri Lankan couple to legally adopt the boy some time ago. According to police the boy's aunt attempted to smuggle him out of the country. However, the boy's mother had furnished documents to the Korean Embassy stating that the Sri Lankan couple was legally entitled to adopt the child.

The matter came to light when a relative of the missing boy made a complaint to the Welikade police last week regarding the disappearance of the boy. The police after initial inquiries told the relative to inform the Korean Embassy, the Immigration and Emigration department and the Airport police about the disappearance. Meanwhile the Korean Embassy in a letter had thanked the police for rescuing the boy in the nick of time.