Steel coins turn 'gold'

Chula Bandara Kulasekara

An alleged racket involving the sale of fake gold coins to unsuspecting customers was busted by Anuradhapura District Police Investigating Officers following the arrest of two suspects from Wanniyakulam, Anuradhapura on Monday.

The arrests were made on the directions of DIG (NCP) Jayantha Jayasinghe following a tip-off by a contractor in Dehiattakandiya. The contractor had been defrauded in Rs. 1 million by the two suspects who had offered him fake coins weighing three and a half kilogrammes.

According to the complaint by the contractor, the suspects had established contact with him by first selling two genuine gold coins to him. There after a deal had been agreed to sell another stock of coins weighing three and a half kilogrammes.

After paying Rs. 1 million to the suspects for the latter transaction, the contractor on second thoughts had taken them for assaying and found them to be gold plated steel coins.

Investigations revealed that a cashier attached to a filling station had masterminded the racket. Another stock of fake coins weighing six kilogrammes were also taken into custody along with the suspects. A police team led by sub Inspector Dharmasena is investigating.