Sweep winner assaulted

• Officers of the Gampola Crime Investigation Unit said the circumstance that led to the incident were in question

By Suranga Rajanayaka   

 The winner of a prize of Rs. 75 million in a sweep draw had been abducted and manhandled by a group of individuals, within the closed doors of a house at Ratmalkaduwa in Gampola for several days demanding money, since July 27, until Gampola Division Crime Investigation Unit and the STF (Special Task Force ) rushed to the scene and secured his release on Saturday (5). During the raid, the Police arrested four suspects in connection with the incident.   

 The victim, a resident of Akurana in Kandy, had been abducted by four suspects including the owner of a sawmill, locked him up in a house and assaulted him.   

 He told police that the suspects severely assaulted him demanding the money he had won in the sweep draw. He said the money had been entrusted to another individual for safety but investigations revealed that he had left for Japan. The victim stated that an individual with whom he had business transactions who visited the scene obtained from him a letter that he owed Rs.30 million. He stated that the suspects obtained letters that he owed them Rs.09 million.. .   

 Police said there was a possibility of a dispute over business transactions between the victim and the main suspect.    However, the officers of the Gampola Crime Investigation Unit said the circumstance that led to the incident were in question.   

 They are conducting further investigations on the instructions of Gampola SSP Pradeep Ratnayaka.   
The suspects who had been remanded on Saturday (06) till yesterday were produced before Gampola Magistrate Namal Perera and released on personal bail of Rs.200,000 each. The case was postponed for November 13.   

•   Police said there was a possibility of a dispute over business transactions