Couple on INTERPOL red notice arrested at BIA

A couple wanted in connection with massive frauds in Sri Lanka and on whom the INTERPOL had issued a red notice, was arrested on Thursday night (26) at the Bandaranaike International Airport upon their arrival in the country.

The suspects, Ahmed Sareem Mohmed Siyab (49), his wife Pathima Parsana Markab (43), and their 14-year-old son (who was 7 years old at the time of the incident), had fled to India by sea in 2021. 

They were under a travel ban issued by the Colombo, Trincomalee and Batticaloa magistrate's courts due to their involvement in fraudulent activities across several areas of the country.

The couple was arrested by officers from the CID at the airport. The main suspect, along with his wife and son, arrived on separate flights from India on Thursday (26).

After preliminary investigations, the couple and their child were handed over to the Monetary and Commercial Crime Investigation Division at the CID headquarters in the early hours of the following morning.