Officials from the Gampola Divisional Crime Bureau have successfully arrested an interdicted Police Constable along with an accomplice in Matale for their involvement in stealing three parcels of heroin, collectively weighing over 3 kilograms. The theft occurred after the duo illicitly entered the storeroom at the Panadura Court where Court productions are kept.
Investigations have revealed that the police constable in question had managed to gain access to the production storeroom by removing the asbestos roofing sheets on the previous Saturday (19). While descending from the roof to the storeroom, a part of the ceiling had collapsed. Nonetheless, the constable reportedly absconded with the three parcels of drugs after replacing the asbestos roofing sheet as it was.
It wasn’t until Monday (21), when court staff arrived for work and discovered the collapsed ceiling, that the officer in charge of the room notified authorities. However, suspicions of theft had not arisen at that point. It was only after the suspects were apprehended and the narcotics were discovered that court staff realized the theft had taken place.
The investigation was initiated based on information received by the Central Province Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) Lalith Pathinayake, indicating that an individual posing as a sales representative in the Ovilkanda area of Matale was attempting to sell a substantial amount of drugs. In response, the Gampola Division Criminal Investigation Bureau carried out the operation, leading to the arrest of a 30-year-old man named Lakmal Bulathwatta, residing in Owilkanda. He was found with 20 grams of heroin near the children’s stadium of the Matale Municipal Council.
Further investigation into Bulathwatta revealed information about the interdicted police constable’s involvement. Subsequently, the police arrested the constable, seizing 3.75 kilograms of heroin from his residence in Ovilkanda, Matale. This stash of drugs was traced back to the theft from the Panadura Court’s warehouse.
The investigation unveiled that the constable and his accomplice had driven to Panadura and entered the court complex by scaling the wall behind it, where they conducted the theft.
The constable had been attached to the Moranthuduwa Police station since the commencement of his service. His interest in accessing the case production room during his visits to the Panadura court was noted, and he was later transferred to the Mirigama Police Station due to suspicions of drug use. He was subsequently interdicted from his duties while stationed at the Mirigama police station for the theft of money from officers’ wallets at the Mirigama Police Barracks on July 16.
Following his release on bail and subsequent court appearance, investigations revealed that the constable had planned the theft in Matale, leading to his recent arrest and the recovery of the stolen drugs.
