TREASURE HUNTERS USING RS 6.5 MN HIGH-TECH SCANNER ARRESTED

Offered police Rs 6 lakh bribe to ‘look the other way’

Agang comprising six treasure hunters was taken into custody and sophisticated treasure hunting equipment used by them seized by the Mundalama police during a raid in the Kumbukwewa area. Among the suspects was an exorcist from Galewela who had performed religious rites and other rituals. The others were from Marawila , Chilaw and Andigama areas. The owner of a high-powered scanner was a suspect from Hattiniya in Marawila.

It was found that the hightech scanner valued at more than Rs.6.5 million had been smuggled by the suspect who

Police said it was for the first time they had seized a scanner used in treasure hunting

had been employed in Turkey. Police said it was the first time they had seized a scanner used in treasure hunting. A senior police official said the suspects were attempting to dig up treasure with an excavator under the pretext of digging a well. He said the suspects attempted to offer a bribe of Rs. 600,000 to prevent the raid.

Police seized a water pump, an excavator, a lorry , a van and the scanner during the raid.

OIC Crime Investigation Branch Sarath Rupasinghe, Sergeants 27775 Premasiri, 32458 Senaratne, 41340 Amith, PCS 33514 Jayawardene, 33631 Premaratne, 54758 Ilshad, 60354 Lankatileka, 63745 Senaratne and 89886 Samaranayake carried out the raid on the instructions of OIC Mundalama police IP Saman Ekanayake ASP A.p.werasinghe and DIG Champika Siriwardene.