Suspected doctor arrested for pay heist

Two Police recruits (Police Constables) assigned to the State Intelligence Service (SIS), aided by a Police Inspector, yesterday thwarted a Rs.7.9 million heist, arresting the suspect and recovering the money stolen.

The incident occurred yesterday afternoon, when a person wielding a firearm had stolen Rs. 7,944,000 intended as pay for medical staff of the National Hospital from the accounts department. 

The suspect had escaped from the hospital and attempted to make a getaway in a three-wheeler when two unarmed recruit police constables who were assigned to the SIS gave chase and apprehended the suspect. 

They were assisted in the apprehension by a Police Inspector who had been traveling in a vehicle on the same route, and witnessed a person with a firearm attempting to escape. 

Police Spokesman SP Jaliya Senaratne said that the firearm used by the suspect was found to be a ‘toy pistol’.  A 33-year-old suspect, who had been wearing a wig to conceal his identity, was arrested, and the Maradana Police Station is carrying out further investigations. 

Police sources told Daily FT that the suspect had claimed he is a doctor who was on secondment to the General Hospital for postgraduate studies. 

The suspect will be produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today.