Dinesh Schaffter informs Secretary he was scheduled to meet Brian Thomas; probe reveals

16 December 2022 02:23 pm - 34 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The initial investigation into the death of businessman and director of Janashakthi Group, Dinesh Schaffter has revealed that Schaffter had been planning to meet former cricket presenter Brian Thomas yesterday. According to the police, Scaffter's secretary had informed this in the statement.

However, according to Police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa investigators are still probing whether the alleged financial involvement with Schaffter and Brian Thomas had any connection to Schaffter's death yesterday. Police also suspect that the crime was planned on a contract.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is now leading the investigation into the death of Dinesh Schaffter who was found tied inside a car at the Borella General Cemetery yesterday with serious injuries. He died while receiving treatment at the National Hospital in Colombo last night.

A CID team had visited the Borella Cemetery this morning where the crime took place. Special CID teams have also begun analyzing CCTV footage and phone records of in and around the Borella Public Cemetery to check for any leads.

According to the preliminary investigations, it has been revealed that Dinesh Schaffter's car entered the Borella cemetery through the gate at Farm Road. The police found the car parked near an air force memorial, which is a deserted area between crematoriums two and three.

Investigations revealed that Dinesh Schaffter had left his home on Thursday between 2 pm and 3 pm from his house at Flower Road in Colombo to attend a meeting. Police said that the businessman had told his secretary that he was going to meet a former sports presenter and commentator Brian Thomas, who had taken a loan of Rs 1.4 billion from him.

Earlier in 2021, the former sports presenter Brian Thomas was arrested over alleged Rs. 1.4 Bn financial fraud after Dinesh Schaffter had lodged a complaint with the CID on March 20, 2019. It was revealed then that the former sports presenter, while acting as an intermediary, had requested a loan from the businessman with the aim of investing it in a well-known company in Sri Lanka. The suspect, however, was released on bail on February 19 , 2021.

Dinesh Schaffter had not responded since Thursday evening and was found in the Cemetery when his wife located the businessman via GPS. Then his wife informed an employee about the matter and later Schaffter was found with his hand tied to the driver's seat and choked. Then he was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital by the employee with the help of a worker of the cemetery. Schaffter, who was in critical condition, died few hours after he had gone into cardiac arrest.

The CID also recorded a statement from the worker at the cemetery who helped take the victim to the hospital.

The Borella police and the CID are investigating further.

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Comments - 34

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 16 December 2022 02:48 PM

Finally, this crime would have been executed by persons of the Armed Forces otherwise this degree of impunity, execution and arrogance can never happen. Remember Lasantha, Raviraj, Thajudeen, Kumar Ponnambalam, Keith Nohayr still remain unsolved! Mj Prabath Bulathwatte or Sgt. Sunil Ratnayake or Gen. Shavendra all remain safe and free to commit another crime even though they are banned from entering other countries. Grim truth.

thilak Friday, 16 December 2022 02:54 PM

Today the criminals are not afaraid to commit any heineous crime since they know they can go scot free.

joshua Friday, 16 December 2022 02:57 PM

Our Police and CID is more than capable of apprehending the culprit. It is matter of hours for sure...... Have great respect for our sleuths as long as there is no interference.

m_kukka Friday, 16 December 2022 03:06 PM

he requested 1.4 B to invest in well known company?. we all know are the biggest looters and murderers.

Be Fair Friday, 16 December 2022 03:11 PM

Tragic.

Reza Friday, 16 December 2022 03:20 PM

@ BuffaloaCitizen every single comment of your is nasty, holed away as a refugee in a western country as a 3rd class citizen, trolling away slinging mud at Sri Lanka. Shows how sad your miserable life is.

Cherath Friday, 16 December 2022 03:36 PM

Whatever chance Sri Lanka had of securing foreign assistance and investments, those are fading fast by these incomprehensible string of crimes - knifing and gunning down people in broad daylight, hacking people in their own homes with machetes, abductions, floating corpses and anything else. Where the hell are these so called army trained disciplinarians? Or could it be that themselves are behind some of these gruesome crimes? Please don't embarrass the few sane people here, asking the World Humanitarian Orgs. to let the murderers to conduct the investigations of their own crimes!

Mandayan Friday, 16 December 2022 03:51 PM

@Reza: What wrong in his comments? Don’t support the criminals. They ruined the country and brought it to its knees. Country is running by NOT serving the debt finance. The danger wife face will return soon as the creditors won’t wait long. These criminals prevents foreign investors and investments which the country needs desperately.

New Balance Friday, 16 December 2022 03:55 PM

With 12,000 former LTTE terrosist cadres trained to kill also roaming freely Buffaloe is only suspecting the Armed Forces. LTTE chopped off a lady's fingers for defying them and casting her vote. So please lets move on. Crime happens, invest in camera network and other technologies as a deterent.

Roshan Friday, 16 December 2022 07:26 PM

Yes Crime happens but some blatantly go unpunished despite overwhelming evidence. and others suffer collective punishment. That is the depressing part.

Julanpitiye Amaray Friday, 16 December 2022 04:05 PM

Cricket, Big Money, Gamblers, Sponsorships and now a death of a noble former sponsor of this great game. Hope the CID can think broadly and quickly close the net on the masterminds who gave the contract.

Shelly Friday, 16 December 2022 04:07 PM

Genuine question. Why wasn't 119 called for an ambulance so Dinesh could have been medically stablized and not pulled out of a car and put back in, driven in traffic etc., which could have caused more damage to his heart and injured internal organs? It was reported that the cemetery worker had seen someone park a car and leave. No reports on how long the car had been there. Wife is smart to track and check on Dinesh. Car parked in a deserted place and it is unusual and suspicious. So why didn't the cemetery worker go and check or call the police immediately out of an abundance of caution? I hope the CID digs really deep and not try to cover up the investigation. For once let's see swift justice. And abive all, may the vengeance of God prevail on those involved. No mercy for them. Condolences and prayers for healing to the Schaffters during this devastating and traumatic time.

Lost Lankan Friday, 16 December 2022 04:16 PM

@Reza Seems you have the intelligence to know who this BuffaloaCitizen is and his background , what his living etc. why not use this intelligence to arrest the culprit roaming in your own backyard idiot. You people are ugly rotten souls no hopes of any progress of good living.

Anura Nanayakkara Friday, 16 December 2022 04:57 PM

CID seems to be very slow in solving crimes . This crime have happened in the day time and hope that they can solve the problem very soon.

Deen Friday, 16 December 2022 09:37 PM

Yes, you are right the investigation is slow, because top level involvement, don't expect a fair investigation, only for few days the news, media breaking news, then all forgotten

Cam Sab Friday, 16 December 2022 05:40 PM

@Reza are you ok with so many day light killings of innocent people and press people going without justice? SL is such a small and beautiful country but with full of unabated crimes and corruption. Don’t you know that The main killers and looters are still holding the power? No one can hide, It is very clear to the world that there is no law and order in the country. You must read the read the recent statement by RW that said that eh egg n he was born, SL was next to JApan in economic development but now it is just next to Bangladesh!! What does this indicate? Don’t you agree that the Sinhala leaders from independence have ruined the image, prosperity, and future of the country? No one need to throw mudd on Sri Lanka….enough damage is done by Rajapakses and all other previous leaders.

Why thugs not set the vehicle on fire after the awful crime Friday, 16 December 2022 06:18 PM

Not surprised by this kind of thing happening. Terrible. However, the thugs seem amateur, with not having set the vehicle on fire.

Coo Mawatha Friday, 16 December 2022 06:29 PM

A day light murder. In the heart of Colombo. Gone past the 24 hour mark. No arrests yet! And seems we are going in to that oft heard line in Sri Lanka…‘investigations are continuing’. See the first comment and the names of those murdered? There too, ‘investigations are continuing’! See the trend?

Coo Mawatha Friday, 16 December 2022 06:45 PM

And @Reza, don’t know what class you belong to in Sri Lanka. But I am in the 5th class. First class, are of course the corrupt goons we elected to rule us (the pride of 6.9million, you one Reza?). Second class, are the yellow robbed robbers (they have their own laws). Third, the lackeys and lapdogs of the corrupt thieving ruling class. Fourth class, wealthy and decent who shun overt political connections (Lasantha Wickrematunge and seems even Schaffter’s belonged there). And 5th that’s my class; have no rights, no connections, lead a nonchalant life with a drink of kassipu, smoke a good joint, and try to stay above the fray. Try to…

Ganesh Manickam Friday, 16 December 2022 07:32 PM

I am elderly Sri Lankan aged 67. But every time I send decent and truthful comments DM does not publish, I am not sure why?

Rip Winkle Friday, 16 December 2022 07:49 PM

And now, the case of the Social media activist Dilan Senanayake who was stabbed will be conveniently forgotten!

Siva Friday, 16 December 2022 08:02 PM

Hi Reza, Sunil Rathnayaka has killed eight civilians including 6 and 8 year children. If your child is killed by this person. Will give him reward to him.

Ram Friday, 16 December 2022 08:04 PM

This will be one more murder that will be added to the unsolved murders. Brian Thomas issue could be the cover up

Blenheim Friday, 16 December 2022 10:48 PM

The damned Sinhalese politicians are giving the damned Sinhalese people what they wanted since 1948.

BruceLee Friday, 16 December 2022 11:11 PM

Today is another tragic day for Sri Lanka. My humble request is to all the media outlets including DM. The bereaved family has appealed for privacy during this most painful time in their lives. Kindly refrain from the running commentary and divulging intrinsic details of the events of the past 24 hours considering it is a criminal case and matter for law enforcement to deal with.

Pantha Kumaran Friday, 16 December 2022 11:24 PM

I want New Balance to understand one thing clear. Do not bring LTTE and or the Tamils to this crime. Remember what the Rajapakses did for the Sinhalese. They were responsible for number of murders including Lasantha, Keith and many others.

RP Saturday, 17 December 2022 02:26 AM

My condolences to his family. Huge loss! Our CID and Police aren't independent like their counter parts in western world. They are absolutely controlled by the ruling Politicians and pick and choose their targets/investigations. Previous Government robbed the country to the tune of $Billions but RW has prioritized of hunting down only the Aragalaya activists and not the $Billions robbers. The Sherlock Holmes of SL Mr. Shani Abeysekera is behind bars for investigating Gota's friend Nissanka Senadhipathi and his company Avant Garde. Sad state of SL in every direction. Murderers are omnipresent. God help us!

Deby John Saturday, 17 December 2022 02:29 AM

@Newbalance..With the highest level of security in place in colombo city to protect RW and the Rajapakse goons, a murder of this magnitude is happening in day light. Who do you think would have had the guts to do it? Who do you think should take the responsibility? Your understanding about LTTE is incorrect. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka once said “Mahinda Rajapakse is not even equal to one hair of Pirabhakaran”. Ask him why he said that.

Mandayan Saturday, 17 December 2022 02:41 AM

@Siva: Sunil Ratnayake was given death sentence for killing 8 including kids by slicing their throats. Irony was he was released by Gota, he was seen having his 9 years old daughter in his lap. No guilty at all !

Dinesh Saturday, 17 December 2022 04:15 AM

Gotham City needs an industrial strength enama. This crime most certainly represents the next increment of SLs downward spiral on the world stage. Thoroughly discusting, with zero chance of the family receiving state sponsered justice.

sach Saturday, 17 December 2022 03:44 PM

Tamils are the curse of this country. These looney tunes, thinking they had a Dravida homeland in this country, so killed, bombed many ppl here. And these have the nerve to question Sinhalese right to defend themselves.

Stupid Saturday, 17 December 2022 06:07 PM

@ sach: If Sinhalese are "SUPERIORS" on this earth then why this country is suffering like this?

Dingry Banda Saturday, 17 December 2022 11:47 PM

Wait and see for Brain Thomas to declare I am in foreign country and I have nothing to with this.

Lost Lankan Sunday, 18 December 2022 08:30 AM

@ Sach and Reza as long as people like your similarities exists in Sri Lanka no positive progress one would wish to see. You'll speak ill of others 100% illiterate and idiotic thoughts and action. Go back to school and learn good values to respect humans and learn to love your country livable for all.

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Dinesh Schaffter informs Secretary he was scheduled to meet Brian Thomas; probe reveals

Comments - 34

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