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19 March 2024

Youth defrauds bank of Rs17million in Lanka

Published
By Correspondent

A 17-year-old youth in Sri Lanka, who had a bank balance of just Rs163,490, withdrew as much as Rs17.8 million in seven months by using his ATM card fraudulently, the ‘Lankadeepa’ has reported.

He was arrested and released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Thilina Gamage.

According to the newspaper, the suspect had withdrawn money on 358 occasions from various branches of the bank between January 24 and July 22, 2014.

The suspect, a resident of Welikanda, Polonnaruwa, was released on bail on promise that he would repay the amount to the bank in installments.

The suspect had opened a savings account on January 24 at this bank and had deposited money on 13 occasions, totaling Rs163, 490.90 until July 24, enabling him to withdraw the money using his ATM card from other ATM machines.

Investigations have revealed that due to technical error in the bank’s computer network, an unexpected amount had been credited to his account through a default account which he had defrauded.

The case has been rescheduled for hearing on September 3.

Tourist guide held for molesting British girl

Police in Sri Lanka arrested a tourist guide cum fisherman on Monday for sexually molesting a 20-year old British girl at Arugam Bay, a popular tourist hub of the island nation, ‘Lankadeepa’ reported.

Besides the suspect, who lives in the Pothuwil area, police is looking for another person who abetted the suspect in the crime.

Meanwhile, a police constable has been remanded till August 6 on suspicion for raping an underage girl.

The suspect had been identified as Bandula Alahakoon, a 51yr-old man from Bangalawatta, Wahawa in Rambukkana.

The suspect had been evading arrest after raping the girl on or around June 14.

Gang abducts 4-year old child after attacking his family

A gang of four entered a house at Katugampalagama area in Sri Lanka on July 28 and abducted a four-and-a-half-year old child, Damindu Yashen Ekanayake, after attacking the family with sharp weapons, local media reported.

The gang, who had come in two motorcycles, had called the owner of the house, Mahinda Kumara Ekanayake and attempted to enter the house while holding a knife to his neck and when he struggled with the gang, a gangster had slashed his neck with the knife.

Police said that another gangster had managed to enter the house and when he attempted to attack the house owner’s wife and his seven-and-a half year old daughter.

Ekanayake told the police that they chased away the gang but as they were searching for their son, they saw the gang abducting him on a motorcycle.

Two of the gang had covered their faces with full-face helmets and the rest had covered their faces with cloth, Ekanayake said.

The injured husband and wife, who entered the Meegalew Rural Hospital on the night of the same day, have been released after treatment, police said.

Police said they found two knives inside the house and were unable to ascertain the motive behind the crime.

Information regarding the missing child is yet to be revealed although the gang did not rob the house or demand any ransom, police said.