Sri Lanka Police has urged the public to immediately inform their nearest Police Station in the event of receiving phone calls from strangers with the intent of extorting money.
The appeal was made following the arrest of a suspect who had issued death threats and attempted to extort money via a phone call from a businessman on the orders of an organized criminal residing overseas.
The Police stated that the businessman had filed a complaint with the Mulleriyawa Police claiming that an unknown individual who had contacted him on his mobile phone had issued death threats and attempted to extort Rs. 2 million.
Investigations launched into the complaint led to the arrest of the 51-year-old suspect in the Delgahawatte area in Angoda, Mulleriyawa last evening.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the man had threatened and attempted to extort money from the businessman on the orders of an organized criminal living overseas.
The Police stated that several similar arrests have been made in the recent past and legal action has been initiated against such suspects. (NewsWire)