Suspect in Sakvithi case remanded

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

The second suspect in the Sakvithi swindle case, Dharshani Madhuwanthi was remanded by Nugegoda Magistrate Courts until October 6.

Madhuwanthi surrendered to the Magistrate Courts through her lawyer Vidura Manchanayaka. The Magistrate allowed an application made by her counsel to make a statement. The statement took one an half hours.

Madhuwanthi is alleged to have been recruited by the prime suspect in the case, Sakvithi Ranasinghe, as a salaried staff member of his real estate and unregistered finance company.

The Special Crime Investigation Bureau (SCIB) has arrested five suspects in connection with the case so far, among them a director of Sakvithi's real estate and finance company, police said.

SCIB sources said the suspect has swindled money from at least 4,500 persons who have invested sums in this bogus finance company, which offered attractive interest rates to customers.

Police said the number of complaints against the suspect was increasing daily. The SCIB said they received 134 complaints against the suspect yesterday.

The SCIB is investigating the matter where customers had been defrauded to the tune of Rs. 900 million.