Sakvithi: Police probe IP’s role

Chaminda Perera

The Mirihana Police fraud investigation Bureau yesterday recorded a statement from an IP of the 119 Police Emergency unit who is suspected to have been involved in the massive fraud committed by Sakvithi Ranasinghe.

This IP handed over a consignment of valuable items including computers illegally taken away from Ranasinghe’s office to the Police yesterday.

The suspect’s wife has also complained to the Mirihana Police that she had invested over Rs. 12 million in this bogus financial company. But she has failed to provide any documentary proof for these transactions. The Mirihana SSP office sources said a separate probe will also be initiated against this officer who failed to report for duty for several days.

Ten persons including an employee who surrendered to the Police yesterday were in custody in connection of this massive scam.

The Mirihana Fraud investigation Bureau said they have received over 1,250 complaints against Sakvithi who engaged in an illegal financial business by accepting deposits from unsuspecting investors promising higher returns. The Police have received complaints from 11 persons who have invested over Rs 3 million in this institution which was declared as unauthorised by the Central Bank last Thursday.

The complainant who claimed that he deposited over Rs. 14 million is a resident of Matara and claimed that his daughter sent this money to be invested in the Sakvithi Investment Company. But Police believe that this person has collected money from the public in Matara promising higher returns.