Police bust major automobile racket

By Thameenah Razeek

Mulleriyawa Police arrested three suspects involved in selling rented vehicles using forged documents. Police Spokesman, DIG Ajith Rohana, yesterday (12) said the racketeers would hire a car at first from a rent-a-car dealer and then make fake documents; next the chassis and engine number are changed and the vehicle is finally sold to a third party. 

Police arrested the main suspect in the racket. Seventeen vehicles, including 16 cars and one van, were recovered. 

Investigations revealed a nine-member group was involved in the racket. DIG Rohana said Mulleriyawa Police initially arrested two suspects and recovered the vehicles after interrogating them.

Investigations led to the arrest of the third suspect who has been identified as the person involved in forging the documents such as National Identity Cards, electricity bills and driving licences. 

“The public can fall prey to this type of crime. If you are an owner of a vehicle or a rent-a-car centre, make sure to verify documents submitted by the seller or hirer. Verifying addresses, names, telephone numbers and other documents is a must. Apart from that, a picture should be taken of the person involved in the deal and archived,” the DIG noted and added that further investigations into the fraud are being carried out.

The recovered vehicles are in the custody of Mulleriyawa Police. Meanwhile, public have been advised to visit the Police station if they have been a victims of this racket.