A Chinese national who stole foreign currency and gold jewellery worth Rs. 1,344,400 from a Sri Lankan passenger arriving at the Katunayake Airport from Dubai has been arrested by the Katunayake Airport Police after extensive efforts.
According to reports, the stolen money and jewellery belonged to a 52‑year‑old Sri Lankan woman from Boralesgamuwa, employed as a child development consultant in Israel.
She had arrived at 8.15 am yesterday (13 Jan) at the Katunayake Airport on Fly Dubai flight FZ 579 from Abu Dhabi.
It is reported that her handbag, carried on board, was placed in the overhead luggage rack above her seat at the request of a flight attendant.
However, when she disembarked and was preparing to pay for a taxi at the airport, she realized that her handbag was missing USD 3,660, EUR 500, and a quantity of gold jewellery.
She immediately lodged a complaint with the Katunayake Airport Police, who then reviewed the airport’s CCTV system together with her.
During the review, police identified a Chinese national behaving suspiciously near the woman.
Further investigations revealed that the suspect had already left the airport and was hiding at a lodging house in the Kimbulapitiya area, operated by a Chinese woman. Police arrested him there.
At the time of arrest, the 25‑year‑old suspect was found to have hidden all the stolen foreign currency and jewellery inside the pillow cover of the bed where he was sleeping.
The arrested Chinese national is scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today (14 Jan). (Newswire)
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