- Nearly 200 Chinese nationals nabbed by Police
The Police Department yesterday (13) stated that they plan to seek assistance from China and the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) as needed to address cases involving Chinese and other foreign nationals who were recently arrested while allegedly engaging in financial scams.
A number of foreign nationals, including Ukrainians, Indians and Chinese nationals have been nabbed by the Police in the recent weeks for alleged involvement in multiple local and transnational online scams and fraud, with many in the country on tourist visas.
As a result of investigations carried out by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), hundreds of foreign nationals suspected of committing various types of scams through online platforms while staying in Sri Lanka have been arrested in the past few months.
In response to a query by The Daily Morning as to whether the Police and the CID would seek the assistance from China and INTERPOL in dealing with the matter, Police Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Nihal Thalduwa said: "We always receive international support when dealing with this type of matters. They (INTERPOL) always provide us with assistance if and when a request is made. Even China is extending support as their citizens being accused of scams is damaging their reputation internationally."
The authorities including the Police and the CID have arrested nearly 200 Chinese nationals for allegedly carrying out financial scams during the past few days. Among them are 30 Chinese nationals arrested in Hanwella on 6 October, 19 arrested in Nawala on 7 October, 20 arrested in Panadura on 10 October, and 120 arrested in Kundasale on 11 October. Police and the CID also seized mobile phones, laptops, desktop computers, and many other equipment from the suspects during these operations.
The suspects arrested for their involvement in financial scams are usually charged under multiple legal provisions in the Computer Crime Act, No. 7 of 2007, the Immigrants and Emigrants (Amendment) Act, No. 31 of 2006, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, No. 5 of 2006.