Police investigations have revealed that the alleged robbery of the residence of a Chinese Businessman in Borella recently was staged by a group of Chinese nationals carrying out pyramid schemes in Sri Lanka, it was reported.
According to Daily News, the Colombo South Division Criminal Investigation Bureau has revealed that the complaint on the robbery was bogus and the Chinese businessman had robbed more than Rs 40 million worth of money and property through pyramid scams.
The Chinese businessman, claiming to be engaged with the Colombo Port City, had filed a Police complaint stating that he and his interpreter had been attacked by armed men who had stolen cash and valuables worth over Rs 40 million from his rented residence located on Lake Drive in Borella on August 19.
In his complaint, the Chinese businessman said that his cook was also found tied in the kitchen, while he and his interpreter who were tied up by the suspects had been rescued by a group of friends, whom he had managed to alert while unlocking his phone for the suspects.
The Chinese national had claimed that the robbers had taken away a stock of American dollars, Yuan, Thai currency, Hong Kong dollars, Dirhams and Sri Lankan rupees worth more than Rs 23.8 million, along with 11 mobile phones, seven laptops, five bottles of foreign liquor, an Armani watch, a valuable waist belt and his interpreter’s van. The value of those properties is over Rs 17.7 million.
However, the Colombo South Division Criminal Investigation Bureau has revealed that the Chinese businessman, along with 15 other Chinese nationals, had been engaged in pyramid schemes in Sri Lanka.
Investigations have also revealed that the robbery was planned by the Chinese businessman to cover up the loss of money by gambling in casinos. Two Chinese nationals, including the interpreter and another person who assisted him in carrying out the robbery, have been arrested.
It has also been found that the house where these Chinese nationals were staying was used to carry out the pyramid scams.
The Police said fifteen (15) Chinese nationals involved in the pyramid schemes had fled from the house with around 40 laptops used in the scam when the Police had raided the place. The group, staying in Sri Lanka for more than a year, had conducted the international pyramid scheme online.
Further investigations have revealed that the interpreter has been paid a sum of Rs. 1.5 million to implement the plan, while the Chinese businessman was not engaged in business activities in the Colombo Port City as claimed.
Thirty thousand cigarettes were also found in the suspect’s possession, leading to the discovery of their involvement in the illegal smuggling of cigarettes to Sri Lanka.
The suspects are also found to have bought seven houses from luxury apartment complexes in Colombo. The Police stated that they were investigating the suspects involved in the pyramid scheme with the Chinese national. (NewsWire)
