CID nabs bank swindlers

Yasaratne Gamage

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have arrested six suspects including two women for allegedly swindling more than Rs 37 million from a private bank using forged ATM cards. The CID also seized 46 forged ATM cards used to withdraw the money from the ATM. The CID led investigation following a complaint lodged by the relevant bank on May 29 last year stating that Rs 32,871,000 had been withdrawn during a nine hour period on May 20, 2012 by someone illegally duplicating some one else's data by feeding them to ATM cards issued by some banks in France and Canada.

The CID continued investigations into the massive swindle and collected information about suspects involved and uncovered that they are residents of Dharmapuram, Point Pedro , Pudikuduiruppu and Velvetithurei.

The CID also found that they had stole bank account information from a customer of the relevant bank and used his data to make forged ATM cards to skim the money.

Meanwhile, the STF who assisted investigations made the breakthrough when they arrested the main suspects in connection with the crime in Jaffna on April 28 and handed him to the CID.

The CID seized Rs 1,486,797 in his possession. Further interrogation from him revealed information about his mistress in Kalawanchikudi who the CID arrested with Rs 8,927,811 in her bank accounts.

Four of the suspects have been sent to remand until May 9 when produced in Aluthkade No 3 magistrate court. The main suspect and his mistress are being further questioned under detention by the CID.