By Roy Denish
Four people were arrested in Veyangoda after a man allegedly posed as a magistrate and attempted to leave a hotel without paying Rs. 89,000.
VEYANGODA – Police have arrested four individuals, including a principal suspect with a history of multiple criminal cases, for allegedly posing as a magistrate, accumulating a luxury hotel bill of nearly Rs. 90,000, and attempting to leave without paying.
The arrests were carried out on the morning of September 29 by Veyangoda Police following a tip-off received from an intelligence officer attached to the State Intelligence Service.
According to police investigations, the main suspect, a resident of Kolambageara in Embilipitiya, arrived at a luxury hotel in Naiwala, Veyangoda, on the afternoon of September 27.
Accompanied by two others in a car, he booked a room for a two-day stay, allegedly claiming that they were attending a workshop at the Mahara Magistrate’s Court.
During their stay, the group consumed food and alcoholic beverages amounting to Rs. 89,000.
Hotel management became suspicious when the group attempted to leave the premises in a hired taxi while leaving their original vehicle parked at the hotel. Management subsequently alerted local intelligence officers.
Police investigations revealed that the principal suspect has 18 pending criminal cases across the country.
The other three individuals taken into custody include a Kahawatta resident who allegedly posed as the suspect’s security guard, the driver of the vehicle in which the group initially arrived, who is a resident of Unakuruwa, and the driver of the hired taxi allegedly called to facilitate their departure, who is a resident of Marawila.
Veyangoda Police, led by Headquarters Inspector Asanka Rangana, are conducting further investigations.
The suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Attanagalla Magistrate’s Court.
