Rs. 30mn worth of gem, cash, jewellery heist Five arrested including two teachers in Pelmadulla

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama   

Five suspects, including two school teachers and two retired army soldiers had been arrested yesterday over the alleged theft of gems, cash and gold worth more than Rs.30 million in Pelmadulla on July 27 night, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said. Speaking to the Daily Mirror he said the suspects had entered a shop which was on the second floor of a three storey building at the Main Street in Pelmadulla.   

Explaining the incident the Spokesman said that the suspects had entered into the shop on July 27 night and stolen several gemstones, gold jewellery and cash worth over Rs.30 million. Police investigations had initiated after the complaint was made by the shop owner on the following day at the Pelmadulla Police Station.   

Investigations were launched under the supervision of the Ratnapura Superintendent of Police Sudath Masinghe. “Several police officers were assigned in the Ratnapura town and suburbs in civvies at shops where gems were being auctioned on the following day,” he said.   

“Police received information regarding auctioning of gemstones similar to the stolen ones. The Police had questioned the person who brought that suspicious gemstone for the auction. During the interrogation, the suspect had revealed the details of other four suspects who were involved in the robbery,” he said.   “Later, two teachers from a school were arrested. They are residents of Balangoda area. The other two were retired soldiers who are residents of Kirindiwela and Lunugamwehera.The fifth suspect was a resident from Horana,”
SP Gunasekera said.   

“The teachers had brought one gemstone to the auction. After further investigations Police recovered 604 gemstones worth more than Rs.5 million, 62 sovereigns of gold jewellery and traced a sum of Rs.447, 000,” he said. Ratnapura Police are conducting investigations.     

The teachers had brought one gemstone to the auction. After further investigations Police recovered 604 gemstones worth more than Rs.5 million, 62 sovereigns of gold jewellery and traced a sum of Rs.447, 000