'Nattandiya Sakvithi' behind bars

Stanley Seneviratne Kurunegala North Group Corr.

A fraudster kno- wn as Sakvithi of Nattandiya who allegedly cheated unsuspecting people to the tune of about Rs. 100 million under the pretext of providing long term interest free loans and text books to schoolchildren was arrested by Marawila Police at Dankotuwa.

The suspect posed as a member of the Christian clergy, police said.

The suspect had deceived Wayamba residents by requesting them to enrol as members of an interest free housing loan scheme paying a membership of Rs. 3,000 each and a school books provision scheme by paying a membership fee of Rs. 210 per child under the public assistance program launched by him.

According to investigations, people had realised that they had been victims of a trickster when the housing loan cheque they received from the suspect had bounced.

The suspect had later fled the area with his wife and children.