Onmax DT scam rises to Rs.9.7 billion

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today (3) informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama that investigations into the illegal pyramid financial fraud conducted through the website "Onmax DT Private Limited" have revealed that the total amount defrauded has reached Rs.9.7 billion.

The state counsel, appearing for the CID, provided this figure in response to an appeal from the lawyer representing the aggrieved parties, who requested justice for their clients.

The counsel confirmed that the Rs.9.7 billion figure is based on the increasing number of complaints received to date.

However, the CID has so far only been able to recover Rs.2.6 billion from the suspects involved.

The court was informed that assets belonging to the suspects have been frozen in accordance with the cases pending against them in the High Court.

The Government Counsel emphasised that an additional Rs.9.7 billion must be recovered through further investigation of the suspects' assets to ensure proper and fair reimbursement to the depositors.

The Counsel pointed out that otherwise, a depositor who invested LKR 100,000 might only receive a meagre amount like LKR 3,000, which would be unjust.

Therefore, the CID and the Central Bank have jointly initiated a programme to investigate the suspects' assets further, recover the necessary funds, and distribute them to the affected parties according to a fair system.