Suspects detained in ATM scam

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The two suspects taken into custody by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in connection with withdrawing money from an ATM machine using forged credit cards at a Wellawatta bank were produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Courts yesterday. They were detained until the completion of investigations.

The suspects had withdrawn over Rs 10 million from the ATM machine.

The CID had recovered several forged credit cards, a pistol and a laptop computer from the suspects' possession.

The special CID team also sought Interpol assistance to trace a young Romanian couple allegedly involved in the ATM machine racket.

According to investigations the suspects with the assistance of the two foreigners had withdrawn money fixing a modern electronic device onto the ATM machine.

The suspects had obtained information from their accomplices in Italy who are alleged to have manufactured forged credit cards to be used in Sri Lanka to withdraw money from ATM machines.