'LTTE' extortionists arrested

Rafik JALALDEEN

The Colombo Criminal Division (CCD) arrested three extortionists on Wednesday while attempting to extort Rs. 500,000 from a businessman in Colombo posing as LTTE members.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said the three suspects, alleged to be extortionists, had been threatening a businessman in Colombo and demanding a ransom of Rs. two million claiming they were LTTEers.

"However, both parties entered into a deal and the businessman agreed to pay Rs. 500,000 of ransom to the extortionists. The alleged extortionists were arrested by the CCD while the money was handed over," SSP Gunasekera told the Daily News.

The suspects were residents of Ja-Ela, Maligawatta and Maradana.