Travel ban on two suspects

For allegedly swindling Rs 1,800M worth shares of a British national

The Negombo Magistrate imposed a travel ban on two suspects for allegedly swindling Rs 1,800 million worth shares belonging to a British national.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) filed a case against Expedit Croos and Anton Gomez for allegedly forging documents to transfer Rs. 1,800 million worth shares in their name, held in two Hotels by the late British national Keith Vessey.

According to the ‘B’ report filed by the CID in the Magistrate’s Court of Negombo, Sagarika Lakmali, the wife of deceased British national Vessey, had lodged a complaint against the suspects, alleging that they had transferred all the shares held by her husband in the Paradise Beach Hotel (Pvt.) Ltd and Paradise Holiday Village (Pvt.) Ltd in Negombo.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jayawardana, the company secretary of these two hotels, had in a statement to the CID alleged that late Vessey had not signed any document in his presence in connection to this share transfer, and that on January 8, when he had questioned Mr. Vessey about this in the presence of Expedit Croos, he had denied to have done so.

Later, Mr. Vessey had by himself and through his lawyers demanded the re-conveying of his shares in

Mr. Jayawardana, the company secretary of these two hotels, had in a statement to the CID alleged that late Vessey had not signed any document in his presence in connection to this share transfer

his name or in the name of his wife Sagarika Lakmali.however, Paradise Holiday Village Manager Mr. Anton Gomez had already signed the relevant documents to re-convey Mr. Vessey’s shares to his wife.

It was learnt that Mr. Vessey died in Nawaloka Hospital on 20.06.2016, and that after his demise, the two suspects had refused to transfer the shares belonging to him to his wife.

Magistrate Dushanth Epitawala, having considered the ‘B’ report and the oral application of the CID, imposed a travel ban on the suspects Expedit Croos and Anton Gomez.

A team headed by ASP Siriwardana is investigating the complaint made by Sagarika Lakmali Vessey.