Welikada Police OIC to be produced before the court tomorrow

The Officer-in-charge of the Welikada Police Station has been arrested on suspicion of illegally retaining the passports of 19 Chinese nationals who were among a group detained over alleged cybercrime activities in Sri Lanka.

The 56-year-old officer was taken into custody at his residence in Weliwagedara by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB).

He is expected to be produced before the court tomorrow (28).

According to police, a total of 120 Chinese nationals were arrested on the 2nd during a raid on a rented apartment complex on Welikada Road.

The operation was carried out based on information received by the Welikada Police Station, with the group suspected of being involved in cybercrime-related activities.

All suspects, along with their belongings and passports, were produced before the court.

However, 19 passports belonging to some of the detainees were reportedly missing at the time of submission.

Subsequent internal police information led to an investigation being initiated by the CCIB on the 17th, after it was reported to the Inspector General of Police.

Investigations revealed that the OIC of the Welikada Police Station had unlawfully kept 19 foreign passports in his possession and had allegedly demanded Rs. 300,000 per passport in exchange for their release.