By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

An Indian national who had allegedly defrauded Rs.2.5 million from a Sri Lankan businessman by promising to grant a low-interest loan stating that he was having close relationship with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his son Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa was remanded till July 13 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court today.

Filing a motion before Colombo Fort Magistrate, the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) produced the suspect in Court. The CCD told Court that the suspect Marimuttu Pille Gunasekaran of Chennai was arrested at the Katunayake International Airport when he arrived from India. The CCD further informed Court that the suspect was interrogated by CCD under a detention order from the Defence Secretary.

The CCD told Court that the suspect had pretended to be an Indian investor and cheated a businessman of Colombo 4 by promising him a business loan at an interest rate of 5%. The suspect had told the businessman that he was having close relationships with President and his son Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and hence he can facilitate for a low-interest business loan amounting to Rs.75 million. 

Meanwhile, the suspect had demanded an amount of Rs.5 million stating that the President was requesting that amount prior to grant him the low-interest loan. At that time, the businessman had refused the proposal since he became suspicious of the deal.

The suspect had allegedly threatened the businessman stating that the Presidential Security Division (PSD) would take him away, if he fails to pay an amount of Rs.5 million to the president.