KOCHI: A suspected sympathizer of the banned LTTE was arrested by Kochi city police from Chengalpettu in Chennai in connection with a human trafficking case involving Sri Lankan Tamils.

The case pertains to the incident in which an international human trafficking racket attempted to illegally transport 39 Sri Lankan Tamils toAustralia from Kerala on a fishing boat.

A team from the Central police station in the city arrested the accused, who is said to be the kingpin of the racket, with the help of Tamil Nadu police. The arrested was identified as Senthuran (38) of Kandy, Sri Lanka.

"We brought the accused from Chennai on Sunday and presented him before the local magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody," police officials said.

The police will seek the custody of the arrested from the court to nab other members of the racket.

It was in September 2011 that city police thwarted the human trafficking attempt and arrested nine persons, including four Malayalis. Police also seized a fishing boat from Munnambam, which was arranged by the racket to transport Sri Lankan Tamils to Australia.

The group had consisted of 28 men, seven women and four children. (Source: Times of India)