The Attorney General’s Department yesterday informed the Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court that, the value of the fake cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme linked to two Chinese suspects had exceeded Rs 15 billion.
The two Chinese nationals who were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over the financial fraud were ordered to be remanded till 21st October by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela.
The State Counsel appearing on behalf of the Attorney General’s Department informed the court that the two suspects were arrested while they were trying to leave the country.
Stating that more than 70 complaints have been received in connection to the fraud, the State Counsel said a sum of nearly Rs.1.5 billion had been remitted to the third suspect’s bank account between 2017 and 2021.
The State Counsel said the third suspect had been arrested on Tuesday (11) and it has been revealed that he had tipped off one Chinese national through ‘WhatsApp’ to immediately vacate their place of residence.
Informing the court that the second suspect was the son of the largest Chinese investor in Sri Lanka, the attorney appearing on behalf of the suspects pleaded that his clients be released under suitable bail conditions.
However, the Magistrate rejected the bail application and ordered the suspects to be remanded until October 21. (NewsWire)
