ARMY DESERTER, ACCOMPLICE COMMITTING SERIAL ROBBERIES ARRESTED

Asuspect, wanted in connection with a series of robberies and a woman who bought stolen jewellery were arrested and a large stock of stolen property were recovered by Mount Lavinia Police Law Enforcement Unit.

The goods were recovered during a raid carried out at the Ratmalana Railway Station Road. Investigations revealed that the main suspect had stolen cash, jewellery and other property valued more than Rs.2.5 million. The 42- year- old suspect was an army deserter who had served an 18- year jail term for similar offences.

Under interrogation, the suspect revealed their involvement in

robberies in Piliyandala, Mount Lavinia, Thalangama, Maharagama, Battaramulla, Dehiwala, and Peradeniya. During investigations, the police had recovered a part of the stolen property including laptops, cellular phones, jewellery, digital cameras, gems, US dollars, cash Rs.25,000 and two bicycles.

The main suspect had been employed at a hardware shop in Peradeniya , but had been expelled for having relations with drug traffickers in Colombo. Later he had burgled the hardware shop and taken a large stock of goods valued more than one million rupees.

Police said another individual involved in the incident had fled from the area and that a police team was deployed to conduct investigations to arrest him.

HQI Mount Lavinia Police I.m.a.udayakumara , OIC Law Enforcement Unit Sgt. 19073 Neil Priyantha, PCS 81753 Hemantha, 83933 Madusanka, 93708 Hemal, 93715 Madusanka, and 89719 Shantha are conducting further investigations on the instructions of ASP Saman Jayasekra, and SSP Muditha Pussella.