Suspect who stole Magistrate’s car arrested

• Suspect was arrested following investigations conducted through the mobile phone number used to call the Magistrate

 By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

The suspect who stole the luxury car belonging to the Kuliyapitiya Additional District Judge Amila Sampath Ariyasena was arrested at Oliamulla in Wattala, police said.  

The stolen car of the Magistrate valued at Rs.6 million has also been taken into police custody.  
The Police launched an investigation after the official car of the Judge was stolen from the Madapatha area after the Magistrate was locked up in a two-storied house.  

During the investigation into the robbery, the suspect had telephoned the Magistrate and demanded a ransom of Rs. 500,000 to hand over the car and documents.  

Police said the suspect was arrested following the investigations conducted through the mobile phone number used to call the Magistrate.  

It was reported that a police officer pretending to be a brother of the Magistrate had contacted the suspect on the phone and told the suspect that the Magistrate was hospitalized due to an emergency condition and he will make the payment to return the car.  

Accordingly, the 27-year-old suspect was arrested after he was brought to the Wattala area.  
Police also seized two air riffles, four knives, a bottle containing poisonous liquid and a bag containing chilli powder during the search of the suspect’s house in Homagama.  

The Piliyandala Police and the Mount Lavinia Division Crimes Investigations Unit conducted the investigations.     

• The car was valued at Rs.6 million
• The suspect had telephoned the Magistrate and demanded a ransom of Rs. 500,000 to hand over the car and documents