'Wedikande Kasun' to be produced before Nugegoda Magistrate tomorrow

The third suspect in last year’s theft of a diamond and precious gems valued at Rs 700 million who was arrested in Kiribathgoda today (Feb 19) will be produced before the Nugegoda Magistrates Court tomorrow.

The suspect has been identified as K. Kasun Dhananjaya, a resident of Wattala whose nickname is ‘Wedikande Kasun’. He was arrested over charges of committing the theft on November 05 last year, Police Spokesman S.P. Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Mr. Gunsakera explained that the theft had taken place at the residence of a gem merchant in Arawwala, Pannipitiya when a group had entered the residence while the merchant was selling the gems to another group of people.

The group which had entered the house comprised an individual clad in a Police Inspector’s uniform. They had attacked the merchant using a revolver and had fled the area after stealing a few gems and a diamond.

Investigations brought to light that the group of people who had come to buy the gems were also linked to the theft. It was also revealed that druglord Makandure Madush had manipulated the robbery from Dubai.

As of now, two suspects who have been identified as Ravindra Nalaka Ranasinghe a.k.a. ‘Loku Aiya’ and J. Susitha Maduranga alias ‘Matara Malli’ have been arrested in connection with the theft.

‘Loku Aiya’, a 57-year old was arrested in Padukka and was produced before the Nugegoda Magistrates Court. He was then produced before an identification parade following which it was learnt that he had entered the residence of the merchant under the guise of a Police Inspector.

Police officers who had investigated the phone of the suspect had discovered that some photos and videos of the stolen goods were sent via the IMO messenger app to Makandure Madush in Dubai.

The suspect’s mobile phone which also contains recordings of phone call conversations with Madush have been sent to the Government Analysts’ Department for investigations.

Meanwhile, the second suspect in the incident who was identified as 39-year old J. Susitha Maduranga alias ‘Matara Malli’ was arrested on December 1 last year and has been remanded after being produced before the Nugegoda Magistrates Court.

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'Wedikande Kasun' arrested for committing Rs 700 million robbery