Horana bank robbery probe reveals alleged inside job after Rs. 35 million meant for ATMs vanished from People’s Bank.
The Horana bank robbery involving Rs. 35 million has taken a dramatic turn, with investigators now revealing that the theft was allegedly an inside job.
The money had been prepared for transportation to Automated Teller Machines and other branch service centres from a People’s Bank branch in Horana town when it suddenly disappeared.
The incident took place between 2:45 PM and 2:55 PM on the 3rd of last month.
At the time, an Assistant Manager of the bank was carrying the cash, packed in two light cream-coloured cloth bags bearing the bank’s logo, towards a vehicle parked near the back entrance.
The bank initially informed police that while the security officer responsible for money transport was signing a register inside the bank, an unidentified person had arrived on foot, snatched the two bags, and fled.
After the security officers informed the bank manager, he immediately activated the emergency response process and notified the 119 police emergency call centre.
Although CCTV cameras had recorded the money being taken from the bank vault, investigators found major gaps in the story.
There was no CCTV coverage at or near the back door area where the alleged robbery was said to have occurred.
In addition, no nearby camera had captured anyone fleeing with the two bags of cash.
These facts led police to strongly suspect that the robbery had been carefully planned using inside information or with the direct involvement of bank employees.
The investigation into the large-scale money robbery was later transferred to the Western Province North Criminal Investigation Division under instructions from Police Chief Priyantha Weerasooriya.
Accordingly, the Assistant Manager who was in charge of the cash and the security officer were taken to Colombo for further questioning.
Following information allegedly revealing that the two had committed the fraud, police took steps to arrest both individuals.
Investigators have recovered Rs. 17 million from one suspect.
In addition, another Rs. 1.7 million was found inside an unidentified bank storage room.
The Western Province North Criminal Investigation Division is now conducting extensive investigations to determine whether the money found in the storage room is connected to the stolen cash.
Trust is more valuable than money, and once broken, it is not easily rebuilt.
That is why this incident has shocked many in the Horana area, where a bank officer holding a respected position and entrusted with safeguarding public wealth is now accused of betraying his duty, his institution, and public confidence.
The Western Province North Criminal Investigation Division has now confirmed that the alleged mastermind behind the mysterious daytime robbery of Rs. 35 million from the People’s Bank in Horana town centre was the bank’s own Assistant Manager.
A security officer attached to the same bank, who is alleged to have assisted in carrying out the planned act, was also arrested yesterday, June 05, by investigators.
One of the most shocking details emerging from police investigations concerns the alleged lifestyle of the Assistant Manager.
Investigators claim that while he appeared in public as a responsible and respectable bank officer, he had secretly maintained an expensive lifestyle that created serious financial pressure.
According to investigators, the Assistant Manager had maintained secret extramarital relationships with several women, including models, and had allegedly spent heavily to impress them and maintain a false social image.
Police believe that uncontrolled spending on nightclubs, expensive parties, and women eventually pushed him into a debt trap he could not escape.
Facing severe financial pressure and mental stress, he is alleged to have chosen to rob the very bank that employed him.
For this purpose, investigators say, he planned a staged robbery and made a security officer from the same bank his accomplice.
The alleged plan was carried out on June 3.
On that day, the Assistant Manager took Rs. 35 million from the bank’s main vault, consisting only of Rs. 5,000 notes, and packed the money into two cloth bags bearing the bank’s logo.
The money was said to be intended for transfer to ATMs at other branches.
He then exited the bank with two security officers and later made a false complaint to the bank manager, claiming that an unidentified person who came on foot had suddenly snatched the bags and fled from within the bank premises.
The bank manager, shocked by the sudden report, immediately came outside and checked the surrounding area.
However, he could not see any suspicious person or fleeing vehicle.
Recognising the seriousness of the situation, he quickly contacted the 119 emergency hotline and informed police.
Although the Assistant Manager was questioned continuously after the incident, police were initially unable to obtain strong clues because he allegedly performed his role convincingly.
However, given the seriousness of the disappearance of Rs. 35 million in state bank funds, the Police Chief transferred the inquiry to the more experienced officers of the Paliyagoda North Crime Division.
When the new investigation team began carefully and technically examining CCTV footage from the bank and surrounding areas, the alleged story began to collapse.
Cameras had recorded the Assistant Manager removing money from the vault in the morning, but investigators noticed that he was only preparing to leave with the money in the afternoon, several hours later.
The absence of CCTV coverage near the side door exit area inside the bank premises further deepened suspicion.
Since no camera in the surrounding area had captured anyone escaping with two bags containing Rs. 35 million, police concluded that the money may never have left the bank premises.
The most crucial turning point came when investigators discovered that the Assistant Manager had allegedly arranged to disable the bank’s security camera system at the critical moment when the robbery was said to have occurred.
Under sustained questioning and evidence gathering, the suspects were unable to maintain the story.
Accordingly, Crime Division officers were able to recover Rs. 1.4 million of the allegedly stolen money hidden inside the bank itself.
The 54-year-old Assistant Manager, a resident of the Wevula, Gangoda area, who is considered the alleged mastermind of the crime, and the 43-year-old security officer from Bulathsinghala who allegedly assisted him, are currently being detained under tight security at the Western Province North Crime Division.
Police are expected to obtain remand orders from court today, June 06.
Meanwhile, following a special request by the Western Province North Crime Division, Horana Chief Magistrate Lakmini Widhanagamage has ordered the suspects’ telephone network analysis records to be summoned.
The court has also issued special search warrants to search their houses and hidden assets.
No matter how elaborate a performance may be, police say a criminal cannot escape the law forever.
The story of a high-ranking bank officer accused of becoming enslaved to a false luxury lifestyle and temporary pleasures, while betraying professional honour, public trust, and ultimately his own freedom, now stands as a powerful warning about the tragic final destination of unchecked greed.
