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| Saturday, 26 July 2003 |
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by Asanga Warnakulasuriya Fort Police yesterday uncovered a massive vehicle fraud and apprehended five masterminds who have allegedly falsified hundreds of vehicle documents. The Police came across this massive scam during their investigations into a vehicle robbery that took place on March 15, 2003. Police have already seized five vans, a car and a three wheeler worth over Rs. 5 million into custody in the process of uncovering this scam. According to the Fort OIC Crimes, Inspector Tissa Sugathapala, the detection was made following a complaint made by a businessman on March 15 that his Nissan Vanette, GO 5673 was stolen while it was parked alongside the Galle Face. Fort Police who were carrying out further investigations into the incident had received a tip-off that vehicle was now in Dedigama. A special Police team who went to Dedigama had found out the Nissan Vanette "registered" as 253-5781 had the same chassis and engine number of the stolen vehicle. Police officers who were suspicious of the owner had requested to legally prove his ownership. On request, the owner had given the "Registration Particulars" and all other relevant documents where the documents "appeared" to be originals. Officers who traced the original ownership of the vehicle had found out that the vehicle worth over Rs. 850,000 had been sold for Rs. 350,000 by a suspect who is alleged to be a member of the gang behind the fraud. Investigations had revealed that gang had purchased vehicles from the owners who had overdue finance premiums and had completely changed the body paint, chassis and engine number and forged all the relevant documents. It was also revealed that an alleged employee of the tender company where the RMV has given permission to print the registration particulars, which is run by the son-in-law of a leading actress, had stolen a 1000 bundle of registration papers from the press although a body check is done to prevent any theft. From the bundle of 1000, Police were able to find only 82 sheets. Police suspect that the rest had been distributed throughout out the country. It is alleged that suspect had sold each stolen "Registration Particulars" sheet to the gang at a price ranging from Rs.7000- Rs. 25,000. The Fort Police also took a suspect into custody, alleged to be a employee of the Government Press where he is alleged to have illegally removed licenses from the press. The stolen vehicles with new chassis and engine number, repainted and ready with Registration particulars and licences are moved to the next phase of the process where a typist at a small hideout in Borella, well equipped with modern computers and printers will do the rest of the type setting of Registration particulars and the licences where the typist types in a hypothetical name and address. Following the type setting the gang produces a new identity card which will match the details of the "registration". The gang with islandwide broker network are informed of any buyers. The vehicle supported by all "legal" documents will then be sold to the buyer at a price which is much below market price. The OIC Crimes warned the public to be on alert when purchasing a vehicle, specially if the owner is unknown and requested to check the No: (in top left hand corner) and the printed date ( in lower right hand corner) with the RMV office at Narahenpita. Under the direction of the Colombo SSP, D.P.L.Dassanayake and ASP Champika Siriwardena the OIC Jayantha Seneviratne and OIC Crimes Tissa Sugathapala are investigating to find the rest of the vehicles. SI Dayaratne, PC 32302, PC 28879, PC 32694, PC 3856, PC 8332, PC 4440 also assisted the investigation. |
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