Thieves in case production yard: What were they looking for?

Galle Magistrate’s Court

An unidentified gang that entered the case production store yard of the Galle Magistrate’s Court at Unawatuna, had attempted to break open a safe, the Police said.

However, when the Police rushed to the scene on a tip-off, the individuals had fled by a motorcar leaving all equipment used by them at the scene.

The Police said they seized a welding plant, a gas cylinder, and several other tools and equipment.

However, the Police had recovered a cellular phone belonging to the suspects and the registration number of the vehicle which they believe could help identify the suspects.

A senior Police Officer said the security guard was under the influence of liquor at the time of the incident.

He said the case productions in the court complex had been stacked in the old SALUSALA premises to enhance the outlook of the courts complex in view of the Commonwealth Summit (CHOGM) held in Sri Lanka in 2013.

However, a senior official of the Magistrate’s Court said the safe had no contents but was a case production confiscated about 15 years ago.

He said most of the case productions removed to the old SALUSALA ground had been confiscated.

Meanwhile, the residents pointed out that due to the negligence of the authorities the case productions had been left to the mercy of the thieves who removed parts of vehicles and other valuable articles and that it had been going on for a long time.

Galle Chief Magistrate Nishantha Peiris who visited the scene and carried out a preliminary inquiry ordered Police to arrest the suspects.

OIC Habaraduwa Police IP Dinesh Nishantha is conducting investigations on the instructions of ASP Gamini Ihalawela.