Three airmen arrested for attempting to extort Rs 100,000

Three Sri Lanka Air Force personnel who posed off as policemen have been arrested for attempting to extort Rs. 100,000 from two persons threatening to frame charges against them for possession of drugs  in the Palakudha area in Kalpitiya.

The two men had been initially checked by the three persons who had arrived in a double cab and claimed they were police men.

Initially they claimed that the two men had with them 40 grams of Ice narcotics and they could be charged for possession of drugs or could be charged for violating travel restrictions.

However, they had been released.

But later the three airmen had called them regularly and demanded Rs 100,000.

Police were informed about the attempt to extort money and on police advice the victims had filed a complaint with the Police stating that three people had arrived in a Bolero cab and had attempted to extort Rs. 100,000.

The Kalpitiya Police yesterday arrested the three suspects, who have been identified as SLAF officers deployed to the Palaviya area.

They were due to be produced in the Magistrate courts.

(By Padma Kumari Kankanamge)