All that glitters is not gold

STANLEY SENEVIRATNE Kurunegala north group corr.

A five member gang operating islandwide were taken into custody by Habarana police while attempting to sell a stock of fake gold nuggets early yesterday.

The modus operandi of the gang had been to sell the fake gold nuggets to a wealthy merchant claiming they had discovered the treasure.

Inquiries revealed that the suspects had been carrying on this racket over a long period and had employed over 180 others as their agents and sub agents in many parts of the country.

Police said the brain behind the racket was among the suspects already in custody.

Information also revealed that the suspects had cheated several leading businessmen in Kurunegala, Dambulla, Pelmadulla, Ratnapura, Kanthale, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Hingurakgoda, Mahiyangana and Colombo.