Six remanded over stealing of 208 Oxygen cylinders
Six people including a hospital worker arrested for allegedly stealing 208 Oxygen cylinders brought to the Polonnaruwa General Hospital for patient care was remanded until May 19 by the Polonnaruwa Magistrate Courts.
Officers of Polonnaruwa Criminal Investigation Division arrested the suspects on May 6.
The Police said that four of the other arrested suspects are employees of a company that distributes oxygen cylinders to hospitals and one person is involved in selling the stolen cylinders to various people.
The police say that this theft has been carried out for two years and the Deputy Director of Polonnaruwa General Hospital, Dr. Mahinda Gunathilaka, filed a complaint on March 19.
“It has been stated in the complaint that since March 2020, 208 oxygen tanks have gone missing in the hospital. According to the complaint, the value of the 208 stolen oxygen tanks is Rs.8,125,354.04,” Police said. Police say that the theft was carried out by taking the oxygen tanks to the hospital in the company’s lorry. The police also say that the hospital employee was in charge of these oxygen tanks.
It has been revealed that the hospital employee was coerced by the employees of the company that brings the oxygen tanks to get involved in this theft promising him half of the money received from the sale of one cylinder.
Investigations have revealed that most of the stolen oxygen cylinders were sold for an amount between Rs.40,000 and Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 1-4 million was credited to this suspect’s bank account.