Three arrested by CCD over money extortion

7 November 2011 07:38 pm

Three persons including ‘Wanathe Ranjith’ were arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) for extorting money several times from an owner of a foreign job agency.

The main suspect was given the contract by a group of men to take the money owed by the victim who had taken Rs.1.6 million from the men by promising them with foreign jobs.

Acting police media spokesman Maxi Proctor said that the three men had gone to the victims house in Himbutana last Thursday by claiming that they were from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and had taken him away from the house for questioning.

Following a deal between the two parties the job agency owner had agreed to deposit the sum in the bank accounts of the men from Balangoda who were promised jobs by him two months ago.

However ‘Wanathe Ranjith’ and his men had taken away his car and had demanded another Rs.200,000. After paying the money the three men had not returned the car and had again demanded Rs.500,000.

‘Wanathe Ranjith’, who was arrested a few times for similar incidents had agreed to take Rs.240,000. When the two parties came to finalise the deal they were arrested by the CCD.

The CCD is conducting investigations into the incident in order to arrest three more suspects involved in the incident, DIG Proctor said. (Supun Dias)