Businessman arrested for abusing underage boys

Officers from the Police Children and Women’s Bureau arrested a businessman and another suspect for the alleged abuse of 36 underage boys.

Following a period of interrogation under detention orders, the two suspects were remanded for 14 days.

The investigation began after a resident of Kandy filed a complaint with the bureau. Acting on this information, officials apprehended the primary suspect, a coconut oil businessman, in the Peradeniya area.

During questioning, the suspect revealed that a group of five individuals, including himself, carried out these acts.

Police recovered video footage of the incidents from the businessman's possession. It was further revealed that the suspects used these recordings to blackmail the victims, forcing them to return for further abuse by threatening to release the footage on social media.

The group reportedly utilised three separate locations to carry out the crimes and established contact with the children through social media platforms.

Authorities are currently conducting operations to arrest the remaining suspects, who include an engineer and three others linked to the case.