Watchguard sets up investigations unit for white collar crimes

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The “Black” Specialized Detective Unit of Watchguard Security and Investigations Limited has set-up a new investigations unit pertaining to frauds, cheating, embezzlement’s and other white collar crimes in the corporate sector.

Former CID DIG Punya de Silva said that the objective of this new security unit is to detect and prevent cases of frauds, cheating, embezzlement’s, theft by employees, misappropriation of information, industrial espionage and copyright, patent and trademark infringements under Intellectual Property Act and to protect blue chip companies and other companies and institutions in Sri Lanka from such commercial, white collar crimes.

The management of the specialized division is handled by experienced investigators who had served in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the National Intelligence Bureau presently known as the State Intelligence Service and the Police Force in Sri Lanka.

“Our experienced, qualified and professional private investigators have extensive and practical knowledge of law and are fully conversant with many aspects of private investigations.

Our operatives each have their own particular specialist fields enduring that we can meet the requirements of our clients whatever the nature of investigations,” former CID DIG Punya de Silva said.

The specialized division of “Black” provides private investigation services to international companies having business interests in Sri Lanka and other blue-chip companies especially with the prevailing peaceful conditions in the country after the annihilation of the LTTE, de Silva said.

“Our staff has extensive and practical knowledge of law, particularly the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, Penal Code, Evidence Ordinance and other relevant statutes covering criminal offenses. They are fully conversant with the many aspects of-obtaining statements and proofs of evidence, financial investigation and asset searching, tracing of witnesses, investigations into the character and antecedents of individuals, bona fides of business concerns and personal injury and accident investigations.

The management team of Watchguard Security and Investigations Limited consists of Chairman and Managing Director Major Vijitha Welikala, Medical Consultant Prof. Dayasiri Fernando, Legal Consultants former Attorney General, President’s Counsel C. R. De Silva and President’s Counsel Upali A Gooneratne, Security and Investigations Consultant former CID DIG Punya de Silva, Director Investigation Unit former DIG D A de Fonseka and Deputy Director Investigation Unit former CID Director M.G.W.M. Muthubanda.