Three arrested for attempt to extort Rs 10 m from businessman

Three men who pointed out a locally-made ‘Galkatas’ weapon at a scrap-metal businessman and made an attempt to extort Rs 10 million were remanded today by the Mahara Magistrate courts until October 18.

The businessman who has his establishment at Hunupitiya Wattala tenders for disposal of scrap metal from state institutions and purchase them.

The three men had called at his business establishment and demanded the money and after he said he did not have funds, they had demanded 500 tons of scrap metal.

The incident had taken place soon after the businessman had tendered for 1700 tons for scrap metal from the Sri Lanka Railway and paid 10 per cent or Rs 8.8 million. However, the Railway had turned down the tender. The businessman had decided to take legal action against the Railway.

Police are investigating whether there was a link between the refusal of the tender and the demand for the money. 
Magistrate Kanchana Silva ordered that the suspects be remanded until October 18.  The suspects were Robert Xavier from Kandana, Liyanage Don Sachinthan from Ja-Ela and Mohamed Nahim from Sangaraja Mw, Colombo 10. (By Manopriya Gunasekara)